Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Mark Wahlberg | ... | Elliot Moore | |
Zooey Deschanel | ... | Alma Moore | |
John Leguizamo | ... | Julian | |
Ashlyn Sanchez | ... | Jess | |
Betty Buckley | ... | Mrs. Jones | |
Spencer Breslin | ... | Josh | |
Robert Bailey Jr. | ... | Jared | |
Frank Collison | ... | Nursery Owner | |
Jeremy Strong | ... | Private Auster | |
Alan Ruck | ... | Principal | |
Victoria Clark | ... | Nursery Owner's Wife | |
M. Night Shyamalan | ... | Joey (voice) | |
Alison Folland | ... | Woman Reading on Bench with Hair Pin | |
Kristen Connolly | ... | Woman Reading on Bench | |
Cornell Womack | ... | Construction Foreman |
Elliot Moore is a high school science teacher who quizzes his class one day about an article in the New York Times. It's about the sudden, mysterious disappearance of bees. Yet again Nature is doing something inexplicable, and whatever science has to say about it will be, in the end, only a theory. Scientists will bring out more theories, but no explanations, when a more urgent dilemma hits the planet. It begins in Central Park. Suddenly and inexplicably, the behavior of everyone in the park changes in a most bizarre and horrible way. Soon, the strange behavior spreads throughout the city and beyond. Elliot, his wife, Alma, and Jess, the young daughter of a friend, will only have theories to guide them where to run and where to hide. But theories may not be enough. Written by J. Spurlin
This latest movie by the redoubtable Mr. Shyamalan is being ripped to shreds. Seems Hollywood's former golden boy earns nothing but disgust and disdain nowadays. Say what you will about this guy, his movies are DIFFERENT. He does not follow the all-too-standardized templates, prevalent in every genre from action to horror to sci-fi. Are his films flawed and uneven at times? Yes, every single one has been. They all have this in common.
They also have in common uncommon storytelling, fantastic mood, appropriately chilling scores, and engender a sense of unease in the viewer that almost no other filmmaker has been capable of.
Were there mistakes in the plot, character development, editing? Yeah. And you know what? Nonetheless, I was enthralled. This man imbues his films, however flawed, with passion, something lacking in most big-budget summer blockbusters. Whatever his technical shortcomings, this is a filmmaker who truly loves to tell a story. Golden Boy status-worthy or not, I applaud Shyamalan and his latest movie. The man has got the cojones to think originally and make movies that no one else could, or would. "The Happening" rocks! -MKA, Ft Walton Beach, FL