Innocence

Rating: 6/10 (15 December 2013)

M. Night Shyamalan directed this ambitious film that stars William Hurt as Edward Walker, who leads his small, isolated village in Pennsylvania, along with Alice Hunt(played by Sigourney weaver) whose son Lucius(played by Joaquin Phoenix) is in love with Edward's daughter Ivy(played by Bryce Dallas Howard) That love is tested when Lucius is attacked by mentally-impaired Noah(played by Adrien Brody) forcing Ivy to seek medical help in the outside world, with the woods in-between occupied by mysterious creatures they have a truce with to keep their children out, but for reasons that, if uncovered, would destroy their carefully created community. Commendable tale about the virtue of preserving and cherishing innocence is well-made and acted, with a most thoughtful story, though it came perilously close to imploding when you consider the revelation at the end, which viewer may see coming a mile away. Still, an interesting and atmospheric film that is worth seeing.