The Happening

M. Night Shyamalan's eco-horror is another high concept idea that delivers eerie imagery and a sense of unease without actually any suspense or thrills, let alone a story. Citizens of Northeastern cities are suddenly gripped with an uncontrollable urge to kill themselves, and the epidemic is spreading to smaller and smaller communities, a natural disaster with a supernatural atmosphere that would be right at home in a Japanese horror film but merely feels gimmicky here. Mark Wahlberg is the high school science teacher trying to protect his fragile, emotionally withdrawn wife (Zooey Deschanel) and his best friend's young daughter from a toxic outbreak no one understands. Except Shyamalan, of course, who can't help but underline every bit of exposition laced into the script. What I want to know is: What's up with the world's slowest gusts of wind? Shyamalan dominates the self-congratulatory collection of featurettes, introducing four deleted/extended scenes, pontificating through the 12-minute making-of "Visions of The Happening" ("Because the movie's so dark ... if you didn't have a person that brings light, as soon as you see him, the movie would be overwhelming") and explaining the genius of key scenes. I don't mind that he thinks so highly of his talent, I just don't want to hear about it from him. Also available in Blu-ray format.