a comedy by director M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: Null/10 (24 August 2004)

Bland, utterly disappointing thriller centering around a handful of characters living in a secluded village during the late 1890s surrounded by "those they don't speak of" inhabiting the local woods. Soon, a series of mishaps forces the villagers to band together to preserve their way of life and uncover the secret of their existence. Starts off well, with an intriguing setup realized by excellent direction and casting, but they're deteriorated by an overlong, ponderous script that builds up to a dull and pointless resolution. Possibly the most unsatisfying outing from director M. Night Shyamalan to date, who's pretentious dialogue alternates between laughable and incomprehensible. *½