Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Happening’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

What’s magnificent about the horror genre, is that it captivates people from all walks of life. Which really is quite the feat, since most of us have our favorite genres that we stick to religiously. But everyone out there takes the time to examine a horror story at some point or another in their lives and what truly makes these films so fascinating is the sheer fact that they prey upon the darkest parts of our soul, all while offering us safety. Which sounds impossible, but by taking a little ride through our worst fears and coming out of the other side safe and sound, we get to experience a genuine emotional roller coaster, one that oddly heals us in its own special way.
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But in order for this to properly work, the subject matter has to be relatable and powerful. Which is why this genre looks toward primal elements to send shivers down our spine, and what is amazing is that said elements are still uncomfortable and terrifying after all these years. For we still fear death, which makes ghost stories and zombies scary in their own right, and the thought of having zero control over our bodies and minds is what makes werewolves and vampires so fascinating. However, not all horror films are created equal and some dive into elements that turn out to be comical for certain and unfortunately, writer/director M. Night Shyamalan, decided that one of those lesser and far more silly elements of our world would do nicely as the subject of his next horror film, The Happening.

Which is frustrating to say the least, because there was real potential for this motion picture to be something genuinely special. After all, it hits the right notes early on. People are suddenly controlled by an unseen force, they’re quick to put themselves in harm’s way, and seeing that kind of erratic behavior definitely engenders fear in the audience. But the instant the big reveal arrives that plants are reason for these mass suicides, all the terror present in this film, immediately disappears. Because let’s be honest, we need the cause or the monster in a horror film to be something that we actually fear, and there is nothing scary about plants in the slightest. They don’t eat people; they don’t cause any harm. They just make oxygen and look nice and there’s no way that we can find terror from a gentle, life-giving villain.

Granted, it is obvious what Shyamalan is trying to accomplish by having something so innocent and innocuous turn upon us. In that, this is nature retaliating for how we treat the planet and that is a fine message, but it is one that M. Night could have been handled in a different manner. For there could have been some kind of fungal infection that drove people mad, or into a zombie-esque state, something which is grounded in science since it has been observed to happen in various species of ants. Or perhaps offer us something a little more contemporary involving a virus. The bottom line is that a great opportunity was squandered here, because this could have been a terrifying horror film for the ages. One that would have prompted viewers to look over their shoulder if the monster in question was something horrifying.

Instead, we are left with a movie where folks are asked to fear a Ficus, and what also makes this movie so frustrating, is that a great many quality performances are wasted here. For Mark Whalberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo do some solid work here as they face the unknown. If anything, this is just another one of those films from M. Night that is best viewed in fractured fashion. Because this one really does feature a solid horror story about a world driven to madness. Where the survivors are in the dark and unsure if their next breath will be their last, and that… makes for some quality viewing and some uncomfortable moments. Just please, do your best to forget about the plant thing. Because it really is downright ridiculous.

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