The Happening

By John Coffey

Roger Ebert's review of "The Happening."

I am glad that Roger Ebert liked M. Night Shyamalan's (I pronounce his name "Shah ma lawn") thriller "The Happening".   I liked it too.   This is a movie that creates a suspense and curiosity that carries the film.   The premise of the film might seem a little absurd to some people, but the movie makes it barely believable.   I find it believable because I know that plants secrete neurotoxins as a defense against insects.   This is where nicotine comes from.

I am someone who is easily bothered by suicide violence in movies.   Here most of the violence takes place off screen.   There is a pair of shootings later in the picture that earned the movie the R rating, but most of the film is not as graphic.

I have to add that I also liked both "Unbreakable" and "The Village" despite less than favorable reviews.   Some people liked "Unbreakable", but "The Village" found very few fans.   Nevertheless, I think that M. Night Shyamalan is a master story teller.