The Happening

Today, for the first time in a while without the kids, we saw a movie in the theater. Some QT with my cutie. We saw M. Night Shamalamabingbang's new one, The Happening.

First of all, let me preface this review by saying that I like this guy's movies. Even when it just bombs, I like his stuff. Like Lady in the Water, the lame adult fantasy fairy tale. I liked it. His movies, no matter how preposterous, always reel me in. It's like I know it's laughably ridiculous, but I still want to see what's coming next. I love the suspense. I love the build-up. It's almost like I want to test my own personal fear factor. I even like the violin music score which seems to be prevalent in all of his movies.

I think M's imagination and spirituality attracts me for some reason. It's like he addresses the "what if's" in this world, and puts his beliefs on film. Maybe I'm getting brainwashed by him or something. I think he just likes to think outside the box and is really trying to make sense of the senseless world around us. His critics are always blasting him, but can anyone follow up Sixth Sense? Come on! That's why everyone hates Kobe. He had to follow Jordan. Whoa, a little sidetracked there...

Anyway, if you haven't seen the preview 150 times, the movie's about this event or happening that's occurring in the northeast. People are becoming disoriented, stopping dead in their tracks, and then killing themselves for no apparent reason. In the chilling preview, they show all these people standing still, and then eerily dropping off buildings. And it's a whole mass group of people, too. The first 10 minutes of the movie sets up the creepy tone for the rest of it.

I like the way people die in M's movies. I know that's sick, but he has a way of doing it that's pretty horrifying, but genius. They always seem to die right in front of you. They always seem to die out in the open, all up close and personal. And they always take their time before they die, seemingly looking right at you through the camera before passing on. It's like they die alone doing something routine. One minute they'll be hanging clothes, and then, the next minute they'll hang themselves with the same clothesline. He doesn't do it in that nowadays Saw kinda gory, gratuitous blood spurting kinda way. You're not grossed out. You're creeped out 'cause you could see it happening in real life, and you feel like you're really there watching the person die. At least I do.

I'm not going to tell you any more because I don't want to ruin it. The movie's good. Marky Mark Wahlberg was good as the somewhat goofy Halfmannish Science teacher. You'll jump and maybe even laugh uncomfortably at some scary parts. It keeps your attention. It's riveting enough. It's not too long that you'll think you've wasted your time and money. Go with an open mind and you'll be fine. Go on a first date to this movie and she'll have an excuse to grab onto you...