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Movies

The Happening (2008)

M. Night Shyamalan (director of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable) directs this thriller about a science teacher (Mark Wahlberg) who tries to escape with his wife and friend’s daughter after an apocalyptic event. THE HAPPENING costars Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo.

Demonised Review:

I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible because there really isn’t anything good to say about this movie… and I don’t want to go too deep into portraying just how bad it is (which can be easily done).

I saw the movie advertised on MySpace.com – watched a very short trailer – which to be honest didn’t reveal much but was probably definitely better than the movie itself.

So… the story… well something is happening. No one knows what!

The movie kicks off on a normal New York morning, with people traveling to work, jogging through Central Park and generally going about their daily business. Then something happens. Something terrible. Theres a strange gust of wind and then people suddenly stop in their tracks, lose their bearings, start to talk nonsense and then finally kill themselves.

This theme kinda continues throughout the movie.

We don’t really understand what’s happening until two thirds of the way through the movie. I was surprised I actually made it that far considering how awful the dialogue and even worse performances were – right from the begining.

The acting is absolutely atrocious!

Mark Walberg, playing Philadelphia science teacher Elliot Moore plays the lead role. His class is halted and he is given the news of what’s been happening. He races home to make sure his wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) is ok. Unfortunately this is where the movie takes an even bigger dive.

Walbergs acting is unbelievably crap! Zooey Deschanel’s is probably even worse. The couple’s relationship is on the rocks (yes a side plot) – this was supposed to add a bit of human heart to the movie but sadly both their acting lets this down too.

Walberg’s reactions would seem like he’s about to break out into tears and Zooeys expressions seemed like as shes seen a ghost and pooped her pants – at the same time looking really confused and out of place.

If people like this can make it big in acting, it really makes me wonder what the future in cinematography holds.

The Verdict

I can’t believe this was directed by the same person who was behind The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable! M. Night Shyamalan really couldn’t have made a bigger piece of poop even if he tried.

I can excuse the story line, the plot… even the shoddy production… but the acting was just over the top. The dialogue was horrendous! I couldn’t take it. The screenplay is terrible! What were they thinking!

The movie had potential. The concept was fantastic. But sadly everything else that surrounds it… just stank!

Rating

I’ll be generous and give this a big fat ONE out of TEN!

Rated: 15

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

Theatrical Release: 13-06-2008