Very interesting concept

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2004)

No spoilers in this comment, so read on. I found this film to be not quite so good as the Sixth Sense or Unbreakable, but better than Signs. The sense of isolation, a main theme of the film, was superbly imparted and added a great deal to the psychological impact of the movie. Watching the film, I felt a strong sense of uneasiness and anxiety whenever the very palpable division between Covington and the surrounding woods was shown. This feeling of apprehension was noticeably stronger during scenes which took place closer to the borders of the woods. Shyamalan, as always, proves adept at instilling a sense tension and fear by showing less instead of more. Another aspect of the film worth noting is the vivid use of colors in the costumes and the flags and banners in the village. These bright colors stand out markedly in contrast with the dark woods and usually overcast sky and serve to drive home the fact that Covington is an island surrounded by a dark, dangerous, and unknown forest. The acting was generally very good, particularly so in the case of the girl who played Ivy Walker. She managed to display a very realistic mixture of strength and fear. Joaquin Phoenix also did a good job portraying a brave, good-hearted Lucius Hunt. With regard to another Shyamalan trademark, this film had a couple plot twists. One of the twists was pretty obvious and I saw it coming from a mile off, while the other took me completely by surprise and made up for the obviousness of the other. Overall, I found the the Village to be a great psychological suspense film with a refreshingly new concept at its core. 8/10