8/10 - A poignant thriller

Rating: 9/10 (21 September 2004)

The residents of a village refuse from crossing the woods in to other towns because of the fear of the ones 'that are not to be spoken of'. The story takes us from a young resident defying the orders of the village head, to the absorbing climax where Ivy Walker (Bryce Dallas Howard) a blind girl from the village has to cross the woods on her own!
Night Shyamalan demonstrates what a fantastic script can do, even without a well-known star-cast. The great direction and some very good performances are overshadowed by the brilliant story line.
Ivy Walker (Bryce Dallas Howard) gives a good performance while the others are reasonably good. Joaquin Phoenix (Lucius Hunt) didn't quite look a lad in the 20's and is the only miscast.
The use of camera angles become more important in a thriller/suspense and the movie does justice to the script. The intelligent use of the camera angles give you the 'jerks' where you pull yourself back in your seat or hold you neighbors hand, though personally I would have liked more of these moments.
The background score goes along the script but at no time does it play a 'hero' during the movie. I have felt Shyamalan's earlier movies a little slow (Signs was a big disappointment because of it's pace and too little for the script to offer  offered again a little too late) but this one keeps you intrigued right through.
And this is a slight departure from his earlier movies because the twist in this tale not only deceives you to believe something else but also sets you thinking.. (Thinking what? Well, watch the movie)
For lovers of stories like the Fight Club, this one would be interesting.
The Village is the in the top two's (top for me) from Shyamalan's bouquet of thrillers.
Stars - ****