Innocence, character and love shine through much more than any kind of "horror".

Rating: 7/10 (11 February 2005)

There were things that I liked about this film, such as the portrayal of an 1800's lifestyle, the forthrightness of the characters and the care that members of the Village had for each other. Bryce Howard as Ivy is a definite role model for young women to see. I think that the positive message of her strength of character outweighs the concerns about scary parts of the movie for teenage (actually preteen) girls. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. The cast of more experienced actors was excellent. William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Celia Weston, Cherry Jones all played their parts with a believability and dignity that made the film shine. The musical score added to the enjoyment and contributed to the sense of time and place. Although the movie doesn't have quite the same suspense as one of Shamaylan's previous movies - "The Sixth Sense", it is intriguing enough to get you wondering where it will ultimately go.