Review of The Village (2004) by Manny C — 22 Mar 2011

Don't go near M. Night Shyamalan's The Village if you're looking for a twist to outdo The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs. The ending doesn't come as a shock in this unique blend of horror, political allegory and even romance, unless you ignore just about everything that happened before. Lots of people were ready to piss all over The Village, especially when some fanboys got hold of a script and laughed at its premise of an isolated community, seemingly of the nineteenth century, being menaced by unseen creatures on its borders. There was even a SyFy Channel doc that Shyamalan apparently wanted to shut down, but turned out Shyamalan himself was in on it the entire time.

The Village isn't a great film, but it is one that provokes thought and discussion. It has ideas, even when it falters. Its power emanates from the tension bubbling within the characters, and Shyamalan has a great cast to flesh them out, including old pros Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt as emotionally damaged village elders, and Joaquin Phoenix and Adrien Brody as younger members, the latter playing the most bizarre village idiot ever seen. The most fascinating performance comes from young Bryce Dallas Howard (director Ron Howard's daughter) as a blind girl filled with scrappy wit and a fierce independent streak.

Set in the Pennsylvania countryside, Shyamalan and gifted cinematographer Roger Deakins make magic out of capturing the lurking menace. A villager must obtain permission to venture beyond, which elder Edward Walker (Hurt) refuses to give out, not even to Lucius (Phoenix), son of elder Alice Hunt (Weaver). But Ivy (Howard), Edward's daughter, is given a pass, for reasons that no review should give away. The elder are in fear of what they refer to as 'those we do not speak of', creatures who make periodic raids. 'Let the bad color not be seen--it attracts them.' they advise. That color would be red, evocative of violence and blood. A scene of a stabbing, staged marvelously by Shyamalan, is a jolt to the system. There's a love story too, involving Howard and Phoenix, that is handled well. Brody fills out the love triangle. Shyamalan admirably crafts a film that seeks to explore how fear can dictate us into believing anything (quite prescient a theme in 2004), even creatures of mass destruction. Say what you will about Shyamalan, but here's a film that has real metaphorical weight. 'Do your best not to scream your loudest,' Edward tells Ivy as he opens a woodshed and reveals old secrets. It's chilling fun, and something to get lost in. The Village has the power to haunt your dreams. Here's hoping Shyamalan hasn't totally lost his mojo.