And Now For Something Completely Different...

Rating: Null/10 (23 August 2004)

Don't get me wrong, M. Night Shyamalan has proved to be a master of psuedo-suspense films. I say 'psuedo' because his movies transcend pass the big noise and shock of being pure horror to touch deeper themes. His films, while intending to scare you, are not only about the big scream - they are also about the little touches, the voices in your head, the feelings in your heart.
"The Village" joins the ranks as another film of superb craftsmanship. Unfortanately for Shyamalan it winds up being his least effective, probably because he makes it more emotionally complex than it needs to be. Adrien Brody picked a hell of a follow-up to his Oscar-winning leading role, because his supporting job here doesn't register at all. He is the obligatory subplot who winds up being "pivotal" - Night, you did that already with Phoenix's character in "Signs". It worked a lot better then too.
There's also some odd moments of misdirection, Night choosing to use a wide shot when maybe a close-up would tie us better to the moment. This makes some of his more brilliant sequences all the more tough to swallow, cause you're caught saying, "Do it more like that!"
As for the film's plot and "surprise" twist, I won't go into the details and instead focus on the big picture. Most films of this type, where they intend to lead the story in one way before pulling the rug out from under you, fall victim to the before and after effect. In essence, the suspense and the dread and the anticipation of what comes next is often better than what actually comes next. When the secret is revealed, you may indeed be shocked, and if you're like me the actual method of revelation will have your pulse moving, but afterwards your thoughts will be, "Is that all there is?"
Night's films have always been at some level about suspension of disbelief, and "The Village" probably requires the most. Like "Unbreakable" he has constructed an average sum out of some brilliant individual parts. In short, "The Village" is too much of a peak and valley film, emotionally, psychologically, etc., to rank it up there with "The Sixth Sense" or "Signs".
It may be time for Shyamalan to move in a different direction, utilizing his indisputable film skill for a radically new purpose. "Ocean's Eleven" showed us the jazzier side of Steven Soderbergh. I know at one point Night was asked for a screenplay to the next Indiana Jones movie, which once again seems to be stuck in development hell. How about another "Stuart Little"? Ha! Relax, Night, you don't need to be THAT different.