Beautiful, Eerie, and psychologically frustrating

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2010)

As I was exiting the theatre when the Village ended, I was not happy. It wasn't so much that I was disappointed, but rather that I was annoyed. I expected a ghost story, and what I saw was more of a psychologically themed, semi-thriller, with a lame third act twist that almost turns the Village into two different movies. The second time I viewed it was years later, and somehow, I think I saw it in new light when I realized what Shyamalan was trying to do. The Village is enjoyable if approached a certain way. There is something kind of primal and antique about the nature of the film which is distinctive. It is fairly aesthetic for a horror movie, yet there is the catch. This isn't really a legitimate horror movie, and if you attend it with that mind set, you may be disappointed.
Set in late 19th century Pennsylvania, the story takes us to a charming little village in the woods, and introduces us to our prinicle characters. We have Ivy Walker, and her two best friends, Luscious Hunt and Noah, who is a harmless but unstable. The village remains at peace, just as long as no one enters the woods which surround it. Lurking within, are 'Creatures they do not speak of'. At the halfway point a violent incident, leaves Luscious on death's door step. With his condition almost beyond help, Ivy wants to travel through the woods to fetch medicine from 'the towns' on the other side. The Village are seemingly unwilling. There reason's for disliking the towns have remained secret, but now could be the appropriate time to reveal the truth, when lives are at stake.
With its beautiful score, and photography and occasionally cute banter, The Village is quite charming, but when it wants to, it can turn quite eerie as well. The film sets itself up well, and as it progresses it gives us an exiting idea of what is to come, and then suddenly, it flips its wheels on us. The twist that Shyamalan throws in at the beginning of the climactic act, almost literally turns the premise of this film into an illusion. It is presented in a way feels sloppy and not very clever.
Depending on how you look at it, the twist could be a positive or a negative. Seeing as it spoils the chance for a dramatic climax, I call it a negative. It is clear however, that the Village has something to say about human nature. Shyamalan wants us to ask ourselves, what is it that we choose to do when we are driven to question whether there is any good in life.
The village in the end is kind of a morality story. It turns out not to be a bad movie, but it does something that cheats everyone in the audience who goes into the film expecting edge of seat suspense as good as that in Sixth sense or Signs.