America is not ready for "The Village" (Spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (6 August 2004)

I have just left a screening of "The Village". It is simply one of the strongest pieces of social commentary I have ever seen. Shyamalan's magic is not the twist endings or even his unnerving talent as a filmmaker. Night has been able to filter a strong political message into a pop cultural phenomenon. This is impressive. His movies are brand name titles that bring in millions of people. However, The Village represents a brave piece of work from a now fearless filmmaker.
People have been complaining about the not so "surprise ending", however this is not the point of the film. Let's look at the tactics used to keep The Village running. Fear, misinformation, lies, and a false sense of safety. Does this at all sound familiar? How did suburbs start? How did gated communities start? The Village is simply a representation of modern American society. That's why this movie has gotten mixed reviews. There is TOO MUCH TRUTH in it.
America hates to look in the mirror. We like to watch, but we hate when the image is turned back on us. The truth is ugly and The Village is a masterpiece.