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The Happening

Buzz says:   MPAA Rating: R
Current Showtimes: No showtimes available

The Sixth Sense crept into multiplexes in the late summer of 1999 and garnered six Oscar nominations, tremendous box office receipts, and critical and audience praise. Its director, M. Night Shyamalan, was an instant celebrity praised for his ingenuity and creativity behind the camera. His next effort, Unbreakable, was not as successful critically or financially, but Shyamalan’s name still brought a curious audience into the film. In 2002 Shyamalan struck gold again with Signs. The film swept the summer box office at the same time The Sixth Sense did three years earlier, and it delivered a fresh twist on the already-dated genre of alien films.

Since 2002, however, things have not been so sweet for Shyamalan. The Village debuted in the summer of 2004 and was met with mixed reception by audiences and critics. Although the film was genuinely disliked — I feel it is nothing more than a two-hour long Scooby Doo mystery — it still grossed over $100 million at the U.S. box office, proving that Shyamalan’s name is still a draw. A name can only get you so far if you fail to deliver, as Shyamalan learned in the summer of 2006 with the release of Lady in the Water. After audiences left The Village disappointed, they were skeptical of Lady in the Water, and the self-righteous, puzzling film tanked at the box office while being universally panned by critics; Shyamalan had delivered an even bigger misfire than The Village.

Presently, we have Shyamalan’s next effort, The Happening, which hits theaters Friday, June 13, and carries an R rating. Shyamalan has never entered R territory, with all of his previous films being PG-13 related fare. This makes one wonder: is The Happening going to be a violent good time that will hopefully resurrect Shyamalan’s fading career, or is it just a stunt to get bloodthirsty audiences into theaters for another major disappointment? It is impossible to know at this point as the film is being kept under such secrecy that there is no telling how The Happening is going to be received. All that is known at this point is that the film revolves around some sort of event that makes people go crazy. It is interesting to see Shymalan take a step away from familiar territory and focus on more violence, but will it be worth it? One can only hope that the film delivers on its gory promise while also stimulating the mind. Although I DESPISED Lady in the Water, I know I’ll be in line on Friday. Don’t let me down again, Shyamalan. I just might not forgive you this time.