The Happening (2008)

Spoiler Alert: Trees kill people.

An unknown phenomena is causing people to calming kill themselves. As the crisis emerges, high-school science teacher Elliot (Mark Wahlberg), his estranged wife, Alma, math teacher and friend, Julian (John Leguizamo) and his daughter try to escape this strange event.

M. Night Shyamalan's attempt at environmental crisis is ridiculously sad. While I think his attempt was to create a socio-ecological commentary on the day, it is shocking to me how sad The Happening really is. While the idea behind it--Mother Nature slyly picking us off in group--is quite thought-provoking, this film is so hilariously unrealized I wanted my money back last night.

Everything about this film is {un}successful. The screenplay doesn't build sufficient suspense, nor does it deliver. The casting is abominable. Mark Wahlberg is hilariously awful. Big-eyed Zooey Deschanel needs some Visine like you wouldn't believe. Creepy gardener-dude with the bad haircut was AMAZING as was backwoods woman, a la, Steven King's Misery.

I think the joke is on the viewer. Shyamalan has created a spoof on himself. Maybe he wanted to see how bad a movie he could make and still have people stroke his ego to defend him.

The Happening is either a non-stop crap-fest or comedy gold depending on your point of view. It has perfect tones of camp, gore, and comedy. So much so, that any attempt at suspenseful drama is obliterated by the non-stop humor.

The Happening isn't happening. Fans of Shyamalan owe it to themselves to view his first comedy. General audiences best stay away.