The Happening Review

Overall Rating

The end credits.

Script, direction, acting, cinematography.

The concept of The Happening was promising and despite my previous experiences with M Night Shyalamans pittiful attempts, I was intrigued.

I should have trusted my initial instinct and not bothered. The film was quite well cast with Mark Whalberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo however after the first 5 minutes the film slowly drizzles to the end credits. I read a few reviews of this film prior to seeing it which painted a better picture than reality. I must admit that I had no expectations of this film as M Night Shyalaman hasn't really set the screen alight for some time, however the reviews I had read promised at least a gore fest if nothing else.

I didn't get any gore fest, in fact I think the only bit of blood was a trickle down an old lady's face towards the end.

The film was drab, very poorly acted which was quite surprising given the calibre of the actors involved, Whalberg came accross as wooden and camp, Deschanel may as well have not said anything and just have doe eyes all the way through, even Leguizamo (who usually gives his all) just didn't look as though he bought into this film.

At best it was a straight to DVD film, at worst (and there were many cringworthy parts) it should have gone straight to the Horror Zone channel for 'B' movies.


Leighton