Few creepy moments but nothing special

Rating: 5/10 (5 May 2020)

Having seen almost all of M. Night Shyamalan's films but not seeing The Village, but hearing much praise (mainly from fans claiming how underrated and underappreciated the film is). The film offers several good ideas, but at times doesn't exactly live up to the expectations one had thought. Up until this point in his career, Shyamalan had directed the Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs. All of which one would consider to be better than The Village. Although the Village is most definitely better than both his next two films of the decade (Lady in the Water & The Happening). This isn't exactly a good sign as it showed he regressed.
The concept seems relatively interesting but given it's little twists it wasn't nearly as great or grande of a twists as expected. It was relatively simple when thinking about it. Also somewhat silly and confusing. For instance, within part of the plot. Why would they allow Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard)- being blind to be the one find medicine to heal Lucious (Joaquin Phoenix) in the woods herself? Also the supposed twist involving Noah (Adrien Brody)- playing a mentally challenged character disguising himself with the costume of the "woods creature" attacking Ivy in the woods was rather bizarre and questionable. What his intent of hurting her? If so why?
The Village is most definitely more of character drama than a horror film, which many seem to despise as it was marketed as a horror. There are some creepy jump scares elevated with its horror tone and tense music. But as a whole, this film was at most times somewhat boring and rather lifeless.
Bryce Dallas Howard was the highlight of the film as she was essentially the lead here, carrying the film for most of the second half. Which in a way is disappointing as Joaquin Phoenix's character is non-existent within the final forty-five minutes or so. Once his character gets stabbed by Adrien Brody, he is put aside and doesn't have any more speaking lines as we see him in about one or two more scenes "healing".
Overall, the film had good ideas but it wasn't exactly handled well. Nothing completely amazing and once the supposed "twist" is over, it wares off. Meaning this film possibly wouldn't be as good on a second and later viewings.