The ideas behind the story make this movie great...

Rating: 8/10 (5 September 2004)

** Spoilers in some places **
After reading dozens of post complaining that it wasn't scary, wasn't a horror movie as the trailer, wasn't hard to figure out the ending I feel I have to add another comment.
I saw only half the trailer and I was half way to figuring out it was some kind of social control twist in the end. I do agree that Night didn't do a great job either hiding the main plot idea or giving enough tension at moments. The end twist wasn't that innovative or surprising. The actors were above average and the direction quite good in my opinion.
Now to those ideas "behind" the movie plot. I really enjoyed the movie due to the mental and intellectual implications: These are nice and likable people scaring their kids into submission and compliance by faking monsters. That is more "horror" than werewolves in the woods. That they let people die without "medicines" in order to keep the farce is strong. Their dismay at the thought of it all ending too. Is our modern society so dangerous and scary ?
In order for society to work and to be united fear must be ever present. Raise the "red alert" when Lucius gets a bit too curious. The "terrorism" as a distraction and means of control. Elders plotting secretly for the "good" of all. How fear kills curiosity, dissent or even questioning of the status quo. Even if one disregards the 9/11 parallels. In order to be innocent the children have to be kept scared of the outsiders. Remember the "bogeyman" and other childish stories ? Isolationism as a means of "purity" and a new start. The puritan way of life that brought the English pilgrims to the new world. The ideas about society vs the individual are endless.
Like another comment mentioned, red first appears in a beautiful flower. Its promptly plucked and buried. Red is passion, violence, blood, nature and our animal side. The villagers have little passion and live serenely. Ivy's sister is over romantic but in a hollow and fairytale way, no real passion. To be innocent must we give up our passions, greed, curiosity and liberty ?
Finally we must remember that for much of history people actually lived like those villagers. In awe and fear of the supernatural that lived just after the torches and fire. The woods dark and forbidding. People disappearing and not coming back. Wolves prowling the night. The sounds of the forest haunting our primitive ancestors into building frail societies for self protection. Thank god our modern lives aren't based on fear... or not ?
I recommend this film... I like the way Night builds up suspense and avoids cheap frights. Naturally some might not enjoy it as much. 8/10