Don't Assume, Just Enjoy: Possible SPOILERS

Rating: Null/10 (17 August 2004)

I know a lot of people have been disappointed because they thought this was going to be some spooky monster movie. It is much more. Anyone can make a movie about monsters, but it is harder to go beyond cheap thrills. "The Village" still has thrills, but they aren't cheap because there is a point to Shyamalan's story. This is ultimately a tale of the sacrifices and fears that must be faced by those seeking to live an isolated, communal existence away from the evils of society. Shyamalan's story is laid out to build tension nicely, the camera-work is clever and attractive, the characters are interesting and likable even though they are not highly complex, and the creatures are genuinely creepy. I have loved all of Shyamalan's films, partly because of how they manipulate your mind, but also because I like the questions he tries to raise regarding our assumptions about people, life, and our experience in the universe.