MOVIE REVIEW - The Happening

There is always one big sleeper every summer at the box office. A flick that crawls out from underneath the hype of the blockbusters and is just great. The Happening, IS NOT THAT MOVIE!

M. Night Shyamalan, the maker of the Sixth Sense and Signs, brings us his latest scary thriller The Happening, and it could not be worse if it tried. I'm going to give you the highlights. For some reason, plants (as in green plants) are giving off some airborne toxin that makes humans kill themselves. Why? I have no idea and neither will you if you lay down 9 large per man to go to this debacle.

Mark Wahlberg stars in this ill-conceived train wreck of a movie, that is complete with a stupid story, terrible dialogue, no action, no humor, no real reason for the story to unfold in any way shape or form. You then have to choke down absolutely ridiculous side plots, (if the main plot wasn't awful enough.) Plus you get some really bad acting from all involved.

What was anyone thinking while wading in this this celluloid sewer? Good gravy man, The Happening is so insulting to the movie goer, I can't imagine anyone walking out of the theater thinking they got their moneys worth. It's NOT scary, or thrilling, or anything at all. After Shyamalans Lady In The Water stiff a couple of years ago he needed a hit. The Happening is not it. It's making some cash, but the movie? Yikes! I feel this may be the end of the line for his big time career.

The Sixth Sense was such a great flick, and Signs was thrilling as well. His movies usually have some great twist at the end. It's sort of his signature. There's no twist here. The only thing twisting was me in my seat trying valiantly to make it all the way through this crash and burn exercise. Shyamalan needs to leave the scary writing to the pros like Stephen King from now on. They have scary story after scary story to tell. Shyamalan had two, and they've been told years ago.

The Happening. NOT happening. And if you must know, there is some blood, some graphic images, and by and large the language is tame. James Newton Howard's soundtrack too is very good. He is Hollywood's best music man. I'll stop there. The Happening...putrid, absolutely foul. A complete disaster.