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Movies / On DVD / The Happening
The Happening

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The Happening (2008)

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Reviews Counted:169

Fresh:31

Rotten:138

Average Rating:4.1/10

Consensus: The Happening begins with promise, but unfortunately descends into an incoherent and unconvincing trifle.

Rated: R

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Jun 13, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $64,384,941

Synopsis: M. Night Shyamalan directs this thriller about a science teacher (Mark Wahlberg) who tries to escape with his wife and friend's daughter after an apocalyptic event. THE HAPPENING costars Zooey... M. Night Shyamalan directs this thriller about a science teacher (Mark Wahlberg) who tries to escape with his wife and friend's daughter after an apocalyptic event. THE HAPPENING costars Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo. [More]

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Betty Buckley

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Betty Buckley

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Screenwriter: M. Night Shyamalan
Producer: M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer, Barry Mendel
Composer: James Newton Howard
Studio: 20th Century Fox

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Sep 15, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • From M. Night Shyamalan, the writer-director of The Sixth Sense and Signs, comes a gripping thriller about a family on the run from a mysterious and deadly phenomenon. Academy AwardŽ Nominee Mark Wahlberg (2006 Best Supporting Actor - The Departed) stars as Elliot Moore, an ordinary man trying to save his family from a terrifying, invisible killer. As Elliot begins to discover the true nature of what is lurking out there, it soon becomes clear that no one - and nowhere - is safe.
  • Source: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for The Happening

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    121 - 140 (sorted by date)
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    The Happening features an effectively stylized physical environment: rarely have clouds drifting overhead and wind blowing through trees and a sunny day been filmed so ominously.

    Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment 1 Comment
    06/13/08
    Todd R. Ramlow
    Todd R. Ramlow
    PopMatters

    The Happening is a film of such shockingly appalling writing, dreadful acting and ham-fisted, ungainly execution that it plays better as a comedy than the thriller it was meant to be.

    Full Review Source: Colorado Springs Gazette | comment Comment
    06/13/08
    Brandon Fibbs
    Brandon Fibbs
    Colorado Springs Gazette

    An impressive thriller which acknowledges the mystery that lies behind the marvels and the terrors of the natural world.

    Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
    06/13/08
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice

    Bad and weird.

    Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment 4 Comments
    06/13/08
    Willie Waffle
    Willie Waffle
    WaffleMovies.com

    Another disappointment from M, despite some disturbing violence and chilly moments.

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine Australasia | comment 1 Comment
    06/13/08
    Ben McEachen
    Ben McEachen
    Empire Magazine Australasia

    The movie is a bummer, from beginning to end.

    Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) | comment 3 Comments
    06/13/08
    Leigh Paatsch
    Leigh Paatsch
    Daily Telegraph (Australia)

    A tantalising, sometimes frustrating parable about the menaces that human beings might face from unexpected quarters.

    Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
    06/13/08
    Philippa Hawker
    Philippa Hawker
    The Age (Australia)

    Maybe Shyamalan has been plugged into those other worlds for too long. Judging from what is on offer here, he needs to become more acquainted with the emotional language of this one.

    Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
    06/13/08
    Sandra Hall
    Sandra Hall
    Sydney Morning Herald

    While hardly his worst work, this film is so far off his high water mark that it begs the question of whether M. Night Shyamalan will ever truly return.

    Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
    06/13/08
    Brian Duff
    Brian Duff
    FILMINK (Australia)

    If you have seen the trailers online or on T.V., you can just save your money and wait for the rental on this one. All of the best moments are in the promos.

    Full Review Source: BDK Reviews | comment Comment
    06/13/08
    Kevin McCarthy
    Kevin McCarthy
    BDK Reviews

    Nothing happens. Shyamalan has finally taken an ax to his Golden Goose.

    Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment 5 Comments
    06/12/08
    Victoria Alexander
    Victoria Alexander
    FilmsInReview.com

    Minor Shyamalan, but still well worth seeing.

    Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Kevin N. Laforest
    Kevin N. Laforest
    Montreal Film Journal

    Suicide bland.

    Full Review Source: Horror.com | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Staci Layne Wilson
    Staci Layne Wilson
    Horror.com

    The Happening quickly deteriorates into the worst movie of M. Night Shyamalan's career... and that's saying something.

    Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Edward Douglas
    Edward Douglas
    ComingSoon.net

    The actors try and fail to look terrified at things that simply aren't that terrifying to look at, unless you are one of those people who considers "Days of Heaven" to be a relentless excursion in gut-wrenching horror.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Peter Sobczynski
    Peter Sobczynski
    eFilmCritic.com

    But here's the real shocker, the statement that will blow all of your minds... this is one movie that you will be hoping for a twist ending!

    Full Review Source: Bloody Disgusting | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Brad Miska
    Brad Miska
    Bloody Disgusting

    M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most talented film-makers working today. But he seems to be running out of ideas.

    Full Review Source: Beliefnet | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Nell Minow
    Nell Minow
    Beliefnet

    one of the worst attempts at end-of-the-world ominousness since the Robot Holocaust battled the Ninja Apocalypse

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment 4 Comments
    06/12/08
    Bill Gibron
    Bill Gibron
    Filmcritic.com

    After the insufferably dense mermaid mythology of Lady in the Water, Shyamalan clearly wanted to keep things simple. He whizzed straight past simple to simplistic.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
    06/12/08
    Michael Phillips
    Michael Phillips
    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The Happening is a divertingly goofy thriller with an animistic bent, moments of shivery and twitchy suspense and a solid lead performance from Mark Wahlberg.

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment 8 Comments
    06/12/08
    Manohla Dargis
    Manohla Dargis
    New York Times
     
     
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