The trouble is, you can see it coming...

Rating: 4/10 (20 February 2005)

This film promised so much in the trailer, but failed to deliver through no fault of it's own. The problem is M Night Shyamalan - because when you know he is the director, and you have seen his other films, you then spend the whole film waiting to see if the twist is the one you guessed it was. Having said this, if you look at the film separated from its pedigree, then it has some very good areas , such as the sense of isolation and community created within the village. It is beautifully filmed, with many moments of real tension. And the performance of the film must be that of Bryce Dallas Howard, a true star in the making. However, the dialogue I found slow, and stilted. William Hurt was operating on cruise control, and Joaquim Phoenix seems to think that every emotion can be conveyed through the use of a blank glassy stare. So, some good points, but not enough to make up for the way I felt cheated at the end of the movie, and glad I saw this on DVD for a third of the price I would have paid at the cinema.