As cinema has become more sophisticated, so has its audience. Split screens, multiple converging storylines, plot twists and flashbacks may once have taxed the viewer but no longer. That’s good news as filmmakers feel they can push us even more but bad news as they may find it harder and harder to surprise us. However, someone who has made a career of pulling the rug out from under his audience is M. Night Shyamalan, the Indian American director/writer/producer.
The Village tells the story of a small isolated village and its inhabitants as they try to avoid the lurking threat in the woods. Strict rules imposed by the adults forbid anyone leaving the village lest the monsters may get them. However, when a young man is seriously injured and it is clear that someone needs to seek help beyond what can be done in the village, who will go and how?
Now let’s make this clear from the start; this is not a horror film so don’t dismiss it on those grounds. It is certainly a mystery. At some points you may wonder why you’ve stayed with it for so long because it seems to be meandering along seemingly with not that much happening. And then it does happen; Shyamalan comes up and hits you full in the face with the ‘shovel of surprise’ and you’re thinking “What?” And then you’re thinking “Why?” – Enough said.
“I do not worry about what will happen, only what needs to be done.” – Lucius Hunt
There are a lot of faces that you will recognise: Brendan Gleason, Adrien Brody, Jesse Eisenberg and Cherry Jones. A great cast but this is all about the storytelling and those 10 seconds of “What?”
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt
PRIME | YOUTUBE
1 Hour 48 min
