Shyamalan does the twist, but doesn't scare anyone

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2004)

M. Night Shyamalan sure knows how to throw curve balls at his
audience. He did it with his three previous major motion pictures,
"Unbreakable," " The Sixth Sense" and "Signs," pushing us one
way and then dragging us - suddenly and, often reluctantly - in
another direction.	As writer, producer and director of the latest Touchstone release,
"The Village," Shymalan does it again - big time.	The plot has a group of small townspeople eeking out an
existence - almost Amish-style - in an isolated hamlet,
Coventington, Penn., bordered by dark and foreboding woods in
the late 19th Century. It seems this forest is inhabited by
mysterious, yet violent creatures who have made a pact with the
residents not to encroach on their territory - or vise versa.	Town elder Edward Walker (William Hurt), and the other leaders,
have made sort of an uneasy truce with these entities, but when a
young boy dies from lack of medicine, one of the residents, Lucius
Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) offers to leave the woods and fetch
medicine from a nearby community.	He is rebuffed, of course, and the people go on with their drab,
dreary lives, wearing brown, gray or yellow colors and getting rid of
anything red, for fear of offending `Those Which They Do Not
Speak Of.'	Lucius doesn't speak much, either but hides a curiosity and
fearlessness that makes the leaders a bit nervous. His mother,
Alice (Sigourney Weaver), who also harbors some skeletal
closets, is worried about her son, especially when he wanders
into the forbidden zone to pick berries. This causes the monsters
to go nuts, slaughtering animals while a wedding is going on in
the berg.	In addition, Lucius turns down the love of Walker's older, flighty
daughter, Kitty (Judy Greer), for the hand of her blind younger
sister, Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard - daughter of director Ron
Howard). Their scenes together are tender and genuine.	But complications arise when "The Village" idiot, Noah Percy
(Adrien Brodie, "The Pianist"), attacks Lucius in a jealous rage.
Her beau seriously injured, Ivy is now forced to travel through the
haunted forest to procure the medicine which could save his life.	While the film certainly has it's frightening moments, it's more
thoughtful than scary; more dark than chilling; more atmospheric
than bloodcurdling.	The acting, especially Hurt, Phoenix, Brodie and (surprisingly)
Howard, is first-rate. In fact, Howard, given the choicest role, runs
with it with grit and aplomb, giving a wonderful performance.
Lensing by cinematographer Roger Deakens ("House of Sand
and Fog," "The Ladykillers," "A Beautiful Mind") is appropriately
creepy, while set decorator Larry Diaz and costume designer Ann
Roth capture the late 1800s period detail to perfection.	A lot of critics will probably blast this film, mainly because it drags
and rags. It's true, Shyamalan may have slowed things down a bit
(making the 1 hour, 45 minutes seem much longer), but for those
with patience, a decent result will be discovered.