Another strong effort, but not for everyone

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2004)

The Village is another film by M. Night Shyamalan, who has attempted to take up the banner of Rod Serling, making tight psychological thrillers that tend to have an O'Henryesque turn at the end of them.
The Village is a film that you will enjoy more if you know less about it, so let me just say this...
Great performances by the leads: Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron Howard's daughter, who has a bright future in store for herself if this film is any indication) and Joaquin Phoenix (who has begun to play the same character in each of his films, something that many of our best actors are known for) and of course, William Hurt.
PROs: Well acted, suspenseful, beautifully shot, filled with strong emotions.
CONS: Not what many of the audience were expecting (i.e., it's not a splatterfest horror film), many will think it's slow and scratch their head leaving the theater. "Why does this guy keep getting to make movies," they'll ask.
Recommendation: If you like his earlier films (especially SIGNS): see at full price at an evening showing. If you're a Twilight Zone genre fan: see it at a discount theater. If you thought I-Robot was slow and hard to understand: avoid.