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If you have ever seen reality shows like American Idol you are well aware of the certain individuals who go on there and attempt to sing. And it ends up not even resembling anything remotely like singing. But the contestants think they can sing. In fact they are adamant about continuing to sing. The problem is that no one has ever sat them down and told them that they can't sing. Someone should have sat them down and explained that maybe singing was not for them. Someone should have sat them down and told them that they should try and find other careers in music other than singing. Someone should have sat them down and explained that just because you like to sing and like the concept of singing does not make you able to sing. Someone should have sat them down. And someone needs to sit M. Night Shyamalan down.  And have a chat.

It has been obvious for some time that Shyamalan wants very much to be a writer of horror with thrilling, twisty plot lines. And with his debut of The Sixth Sense we thought maybe he would be. But since then he has been making more and more films that never live up to the hype. Don't get me wrong, Night is a great writer. When he writes what he is good at which is wit, humor and grand stories of enchantment and wonder. But even when he creates films like Lady in the Water he still tries to pass them off as intense thrillers, or at least those who make the previews and trailers do. Unfortunately bad marketing corrupts good filming.

So when "they" started hyping up The Happening as the first R rated film from Shyamalan I knew that "they" were covering up something vital. But I went in with an open mind. After all, I want to like his films and I admire him as a writer of concepts. And in the opening scenes I was getting excited that this could be the movie we have been waiting years for from M. Night. Then it Happened. The point were great concept met a brick wall. And a unique concept floundered into 90 minutes of campy, b-movie filming that had the feel of early versions of Creepshow. I think I laughed (out of frustration) more in this film than I ever jumped or cringed.

I sort of feel bad for M. Night. I do think he really wants to succeed in this genre. But it is a talent few have and fewer master. Stephen King could have taken this same idea and had us in the corner, curled up in the fetal position sucking our thumbs in 90 minutes. Instead we all left simply shaking our heads in sadness and frustration.

The two main stars, Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel are both enjoyable in this film. Their characters are quirky and the lines they are given play off their ability to be odd when called upon. But was that the point? I will not give away the plot or the few moments of attempted gore. I will allow you to go in and decide for yourself if I am just being harsh. But the main premise of an airborne contaminate that causes groups of people to lose their minds just goes nowhere.

The Happening is rated R for violent and disturbing images. The more I think about it the angrier I get. It is almost as if, and this might be totally off base, he just assumes that we will go to his films regardless and he can just make fun of the genre and we will be too ignorant to know the difference. It is insulting as a movie fan.  I give The Happening 1 out of 5 walks in the park. M. Night of the living dead? Not even close.
 

Matt Mungle (6/17/08)

Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and co-hosts a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies, with his wife Cindy. For additional reviews, interview clips and great DVD giveaways, visit the website www.mungleshow.com

Review copyright 2008 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.