Director:
M. Night Shyamalan

Writer:
M. Night Shyamalan

Stars:
Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo

Story

The Happening begins with a shot of Central Park. People are walking around enjoying the weather, doing happy summer time things. Suddenly a breeze rolls in and everyone looks to be frozen in time. A woman sitting on a park bench pulls a long stick out of her hair and proceeds to jam it into her neck. Suddenly people all over New York are committing suicide in various and horrifying ways.

The film is focused on a family (Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel) that are trying to get from Philadelphia to a friends cabin out of town and hide out while this strange “Happening” is dropping people all over the eastern seaboard. Something deadly and malevolent is blowing in the wind, and those caught in the breeze become suicidal time bombs. What is the Happening and what have we done to deserve it?

I enjoyed the story. I thought it was an imaginative and unique tale. In the vein of environmental disaster/survival films, the Happening stands out as something that is a bit different than the tried and true formula. The film opens with a sharp prick in the neck and continues to entertain as Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel seek refuge in an area that is unaffected by nature’s wrath.

Characters

This is where the film seems to break down. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel are both seasoned actors and have played some magnificent, believable, well acted roles in the past. Yet, both of their performances in this film seem like something one would see in an amateur film project. They recite their lines awkwardly, and seem very wooden while trying to infuse some emotion into their delivery. Gauged on their previous performances on other films, I have to believe the problem with their acting in this film boils down to poor direction by M. Night Shyamalan.

Gore/Special Effects

A few entertaining deaths near the beginning and tail end of the film were really all the action that was delivered. This film is more about a what if scenario and leaves a ton to the imagination, it’s up to the viewer to gather and form their own opinions as to what and why “The Happening” took place.

Final Head Count

I enjoyed the story of the film and at it’s core it was entertaining. The acting as I previously had mentioned was poor and the action was almost none existent yet it still worked because the story was unique and intriguing. I was hooked from the first five minutes (whether that was because of the story or Zooey Deschanel remains unknown), and in typical M. Night Shyamalan fashion, the viewer is always seeking the big payoff that delivers either some chills, shocks, or at the very least explains and ties up any loose ends. I’m not going to go into plot specifics because I don’t want to spoil this film for any potential viewers, but it’s definitely got an M. Night Shyamalan stamp on it.