Unbearable.

Rating: 4/10 (8 February 2001)

Actually, that's not entirely true - I actually like the slow, atmospheric, mysterious build-up in this film, David searching for the reason for his existence, the doubting, the incomprehension. And some of the set-pieces are excellent - the conversation on the train; the harrowing chase down the subway steps; David's visit to Elijah's gallery, his head silhouetted against a table lamp and giving him a halo; the pool scene. But per-lease - yet another tricky twist at the end? It's like one of those shaggy-dog stories that we used to tell as kids, and everyone groans at the punch-line. Night Shyamalan has to get out of this rut next time round or they'll be calling him a one-trick pony.