Movie Review: The Village

Stars (Out of 10): 9

One Word Summary: Great

Movie Details: Village, The Suspense/Thriller | Horror | Drama MPAA RATING PG-13 for scenes of violence and frightening situations 115 minutes | Color USA WRITTEN BY M. Night Shyamalan   DIRECTED BY M. Night Shyamalan THEATRICAL RELEASE Jul 30, 2004   Relevant Sites: IMDB Official Movie Website Watch The Movie Trailers Shopping: Shop Amazon for items related to this movie. Shop for movie posters at AllPosters

"The Village" Review:

          M. Night Shyamalan went to great lengths to make sure we had no idea what The Village was about before we saw it; I値l give you only slightly more information than him. The Village is set in 1897 rural Pennsylvania and follows the population of Covington, a small village surrounded by woods that are inhabited by deadly creatures. No one from the village has left in years because the creatures will stay away if they aren稚 bothered. The film follows Lucius Hunt, a young man who questions this policy of self containment and wishes to leave.

          The Village has only one problem. It痴 not that the movie sells itself as a horror picture, and doesn稚 provide enough screams (although this is true); it痴 not that it痴 too slow in the beginning (this is probably true as well); or that it痴 a stupid plot to begin with. The problem isn稚 the story, or the ending, the problem is M. Night Shyamalan.

          There痴 nothing wrong with the man himself, The Village is the crowning achievement of an already beloved filmography. What痴 wrong is that he痴 made a career out of surprising endings, but now it痴 impossible for anything to be surprising anymore. The Village ends brilliantly, but not shockingly because we were looking for the twist all along. The ending is great, but I saw it coming from a mile away because I spent the whole movie preparing for the finish.

          I enjoyed The Village more than any other of Shyamalan痴 films, and if I had seen it first it would probably rank as one of my favorite movies ever. It is a beautifully directed film with a wonderful and talented cast.

          If remembered for nothing else, The Village will be the movie that launched Bryce Dallas Howard痴 career. The daughter of actor/director Ron Howard delivers an incredible performance as the blind and love struck Ivy Howard. Her supporting cast, most notably Joaquin Phoenix, William Hurt and Adrien Brody each give strong performances as well.

          The Village is also beautifully filmed. It takes a lot to make me notice the color palette a director implements, but this film is visually gorgeous because of it.

          More than the horror film it was billed to be (don稚 expect too many screams, you値l be disappointed), The Village is a romance between two characters; you値l have to see it to know who. This is Shyamalan痴 most emotional and graceful film, and it痴 the closest to perfection he痴 come. All of Shyamalan痴 movies seem to be written from the end backwards; this one comes closest to being able to stand alone without the signature M. Night twist.

The Bottom Line is that The Village is a smart, well directed, well written, well acted film that will have you leaving the theatre satisfied and pondering. This is the type of movie that is as good of a conversation piece as anything else. The ending is well done, but here痴 a suggestion for you Mr. Shyamalan (if you池e reading this); if you want to surprise us, next time use a pen name because your name will soon repel people from the theatre as easily as it attracted them.