By Steve Biodrowski
In his latest ominous opus, M. Night Shyamalan offers up low-intensity thrills that fail to match the shivery shudders of his best work (THE SIXTH SENSE, SIGNS). His patented approach – mixing domestic drama with horror – plays out on a much larger canvas ths time, yet yields diminishing returns inversely proportional to the scope of the project. The presentation of an uncanny “happening” that defies explanation evokes a suitable sense of paranoia early on, but putting the horror on a global scale dwarfs the human element, rendering it almost petty. The strident attempt to underline the events with a thought-provoking message makes George A. Romero recent work seem subtle by comparison. By the conclusion the film has descended into unconvincing melodrama, tagged by hokey happy ending and a predictable “twist.” Continue reading “The Happening (2008) – Horror Film Review”
