The Village is Truly A Gem In the Rough

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2005)

In theaters everywhere, The Village, directed by M. Night Shyamalan was billed as a horror film. It was to be a tale of suspense and fright that was to be as intense and as riveting as his previous and rather popular semi-horror films The Sixth Sense and Signs. Yet, the movie is nothing like a work of horror, or his former films (except for the twist ending). In fact, it hardly has any elements of horror at all, which is unusual for a Shyamalan film. However, while Shyamalan deprives the audience of a horror flick, he also pulls a surprise from his seemingly never-ending bag of tricks and presents us with a story that deals with complex and engrossing issues as love, trust and courage all in a puritan-looking village. In addition though, the film is about no ordinary "village" for the inhabitants are fearful superstitious colonials, who fear one thing in their lives: the creatures that inhabit the "forbidden woods". While this seems to set up the right formula for a typical horror film, Shyamalan refuses to follow the rules, and instead presents us with a movie that is far from the typical popcorn suspense flick that audience have gotten too accustomed to.
In addition to the complex story of the "isolated village", the acting is a key component of the film that keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end. While underrated actor Joaquin Phoenix gives another solid performance, the real star of the film is Bryce Dallas Howard, who gives a riveting and sensational inaugural performance as Phoenix's blind love interest, Ivy. Amazingly, the chemistry between the two is amazing, yet Ivy seems to be the one that stands out the most. The emotion that she is able to display through her face and body language is a true characteristic of her professionalism and also a good sign that she is a competent actor that is capable of more roles in the future.
The Village is not a horror film by any standards, and that is mainly why critics everywhere have panned the film and given negative reviews. However, while it may not be a horror film, it is an unbelievable film nonetheless. In its basic essence, it is a movie that is more complex than his previous film Signs, and strikes to the heart much deeper than any of his previous three films ever did. Granted, it takes an open mind and a patient soul to get everything Shyamalan has to offer from this movie, which is something audiences aren't used to doing. However, in this day of popcorn horror and suspense films and boring linear dramas, this is a movie that definitely stands out from the crowd and is worth the price of admission in more ways than one.