M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening is Finding Love in Streaming

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As a movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours delving into the depths of cinema history and exploring the vast landscape of modern filmmaking, I must say that my opinion on M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” is somewhat divided. Having witnessed both critical acclaim and widespread derision for many of his films throughout his career, I find myself intrigued by this eco-horror flick’s peculiar place in Shyamalan’s oeuvre.

2008’s “The Happening,” a horror film by M. Night Shyamalan portraying nature as menacing, has found a fresh residence on Hulu. Recently added to their library, the movie seems fitting for the chilling season and is steadily rising in popularity within Hulu’s offerings, with no indications of slowing down.

The movie “The Happening” has been steadily rising in popularity on Hulu, reaching as high as third place before dropping slightly to eighth. Although these rankings can change frequently, Shyamalan seems to have found a fanbase on the streaming service who may have forgotten the film’s initial response and are eager for another watch.

The story revolves around Elliot Moore, a high school science teacher, along with his wife Alma and a fellow educator who saves his daughter, as they choose to flee when inexplicable events start unfolding among the populace: people, seemingly without provocation, are choosing to take their own lives en masse. Initially, Elliot assumes it’s a terrorist act, suspecting a lethal neurotoxin has been disseminated. However, as they continue their journey, they come to understand that this is an elaborate scheme orchestrated by plants, which have developed an airborne toxin that triggers mass human self-destruction.

Critics didn’t give a favorable review to M. Night Shyamalan’s seventh movie, “The Happening.” Although it managed to make a good amount at the box office, critics were rather harsh towards it. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 18% rating and a 24% score on The Popcornmeter (previously known as the Audience score).

This is an ideal period for watching horror films, as many enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the significant month for horror premieres and re-watches. Streaming services strategize their licensing budgets, aiming to secure classic horrors (spanning various realms of the horror genre) for their collections. Interestingly, Shyamalan’s less-than-classic horror flop has been receiving some renewed interest since Hulu included it in their offerings.

But is Shyamalan’s The Happening Really That Bad?

I found myself initially skeptical about M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening, but upon giving it a chance, I began to appreciate its unique charm. To be honest, the film’s initial release had Shyamalan boasting that it was an “excellent B-movie.” With his later works and the critical response they received, it’s unclear if all of his films were intended for this category. However, The Happening offers a fresh take on eco-horror that might resonate with open-minded viewers.

Critics found Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of Elliot Moore in the movie to be quite over-the-top, with his exaggerated facial expressions making it hard for viewers to take the film seriously. On the other hand, Zooey Deschanel’s performance wasn’t her strongest work in her career.

Despite some flaws, particularly in acting and perhaps not the most terrifying overall, M. Night Shyamalan excels at creating scenes that are truly chilling. For instance, King’s comment on The Happening applies here: “M. Night Shyamalan truly grasps fear.” This is evident in sequences like the one featuring construction workers leaping from a building or the hairpin kill – an image that lingers forever.

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2024-10-14 03:07