In Defence Of Dross #1 - The Happening

I have a sickness. I like movies other people deem terrible, hence In Defence Of Dross where I stand up for those movies people would rather rectally breach.

M. Night Shyamalan was once a god to me. Sixth Sense was suberbly crafted storytelling - a horror movie that was really a romantic tragedy. It will forever be remembered for it's twist ending but I guessed the day before I saw it what the ending was and so I was just caught up in the majesty of the film. He was compared to Hitchcock and Spielberg but he will always be "Night" to me. A genius.

Then followed by Unbreakable. A mystery that was really a Superhero origin story. Of all his films I would love to see a sequel to this one. The story of David Dunn still must continue and who knows what real world monsters he could take down? Then came Signs, an epic story of Alien invasion that is really a treatise on faith. One of the most amazing films and an amazing performance by Gibson. And that is Shyamalan's real strength. His dialogue can be too quirky and his films quite slow paced but he gets a performance out of actors you haven't seen too much depth to previously. Bruce Willis was a smug action hero as was Mel Gibson until suddenly they were acting... WITH A VENGEANCE!

Sadly, all good things etc. The Village was a fail immediately. Knowing Night cameos in all his films how would he pull one off in a movie with a totally white cast... unless it's actually present day? Twist blown and the film didn't hold up anyway. Bryce Dallas Howard may be a pretty hot Gwen Stacy but in everything else she gives me the shivers. Lady In The Water was something different and is saved by Paul Giamatti's performance but seriously although I liked it I couldn't tell you one thing about it now. Except something about Grass Dogs... I dunno.

So I was quite pleased to see the trailer for The Happening looking like it was Night doing what he does best. Providing a huge mystery then yanking the rug out from under you. Knowing I probably wouldn't get round to it at the cinema sucked and so I read all the online reviews... and they were savage! Nobody posted one redeeming feature and a friend of mine tore it a new one when she told me about the film. Two words jumped out from most reviews - "Killer Trees" - a bad, bad sign. Plus I hate Mark Whalberg, who told him to become an actor anyway? Clive Owen's agent?

So I sat back to finally watch it and... well, 30 minutes of the film had passed and I found myself liking Whalberg's performance. The beautiful Zooey Deschanel was on wide eyed perfection form again and John Leguizamo (forever Luigi in Super Mario Bros) was fantastic. I genuinely began caring about them as characters (another Night staple - slow build everything so you really get to know the people) and became concerned at who would survive. Plus the Killer Trees aspect was so well done - a toxin in the wind doing for a light breeze what Hitchcock did for showers.

The suicides were quite unsettling, panning from a row of ladders up to the people that had hung themselves from them was a kicker. For a guy who isn't easily shocked or scared this film put me through my paces. It was tense for the most part, my heart trying to force itself out of my chest for the majority of the flick, and sweet in others. The relationship between Marky Mark and Zooey was well crafted and their relationship reblossoming was a sweet sight to see in the midst of all the horror.

My one and only gripe against this film was the most pointless piece of product placement imaginable - an old lady shows Marky a video her friend sent her of a suicide. They gather round her IPHONE! She's not the type who would have run out to get one of those extortionate beauties so why didn't they just cast a younger woman to make the situation a little more believable?

Best part of the film: Mr Funky Bunch making up a story to try to get back at his wife for having dinner with another guy. Or is it the scene where he tries to bargain with a tree in a house to grant him and his family safe passage? The scene almost made me groan until he realised the tree was plastic - INSTANT COMEDY GOLD!

All in all I recommend The Happening highly. Just watch with an open mind and appreciate the fun. Honestly, I just want ONE other bloody person on the planet to agree with me on it!?

The Defence rests...

Until next time.
Next Defence: Bullseye!