HorrorSpeak---Terror Awaits You in Every Forum!!!!: The Happening

** SPOILERS **

My first viewing of The Happening was last night. Overall I really enjoyed it. As someone stated near the top it definitely has some flaws. But I was able to buy into it and enjoy the ride. At least up until the killer plant storyline really came front and center. The beginning of this film reminded me of the first chapter of Stephen King's Cell. Not only because of the city park setting, but we get the first taste of something sinister going one before we've really been introduced to any characters. I am always suspect when a movie starts out this way, as many times it's an omen that character and story development is not going to be the priority. One of the scenes that really sucked me in was the landscapers' mass hanging. That particular moment in the film carried alot of impact for me. No gore, just this shocking and surreal image of bodies swinging above a beautiful suburban street. Not M. Night's best film, but as a fan I enjoyed it for what they did do right and for what he was trying to accomplish. The major sufferage for me was the lead. This is probably Marc Walburg's worst acting attempt. He has such an odd presence to begin with, which has worked in some films like The Perfect Storm and Boogie Nights, but is so far out of place here that it's extremely hard to immerse yourself in the character.

One of the things I like about M. Night is how downplayed some of the key moments are. Generally speaking, his movies aren't in your face kind of stories. To me watching one of his films is more akin to reading a story versus watching a movie. I'm not saying they're overly intellectual, just that the scenes are not fast paced, but instead thoughtful and fluid, and have a purposeful build up to the money shots. I was re-watching Signs a couple of weeks ago and was really taken aback at the scene where the aliens are shown for the first time. The setup is a newsfeed of amateur footage of a child's birthday party where the kids are rushed inside a house to safety and then a glimpse of the alien is caught as it sneaks across an alleyway. I had forgotten how tense and funny that part of the movie really was, and while I thought that specific scene was masterfully executed, it's effectiveness was due more to the fact that the whole story had been a build up to that first, tiny reveal.

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind about M. Night, but as someone who considers themselves a true horror fan, I have a real appreciation for his style of storytelling. Specifically because it is purposeful and paced and told almost from the perspective of looking out of the corner of your eye instead of straight ahead. I've always found it's the things you can't see that are the scariest and I find M. Night to be a master at that sentiment.

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"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!"
- Lewis Carroll