M. Night Shyamalan

I had a chance to see M. Night Shyamalan’s latest movie The Happening yesterday and was again pleased with his work. The Happening is his first R rated movie and it is deserved for the violence which is usually “obscenus”. A number of reviewers found fault with the premise of plants attacking people but ellopathy is real with perhaps the best known example being sweet potatoes which exude a chemical which suppresses plant life around them. Atleast Shyamalan’s premise has a root in reality unlike say vampire’s, werewolves, Spiderman, the Hulk and any number of other science fiction / horror concepts. I suspect most critics are unimpressed by his ability to tell a tale without requiring your typical special effects montage. Shyamalan uses his actors and naturals surroundings to create a suspenseful environment, you see and hear the wind which heralds the arrival of danger, you hear a phone call ending in tragedy, you see people watching a live news event wirelessly, gunshots methodically occurring on the other side of the hill they have just crossed. Fine movie making all the way around.