M. Night Shyamalan‘s 2008 “nature strikes back” horror film, The Happening, is now streaming on Hulu, as part of its generous horror catalog. The film, starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, can now be viewed by subscribers during the spooky season, although many fans of the genre would agree that The Happening remains one of the director’s less appealing approaches to horror (and one of his most polarizing features).
The Happening tells the story of a group of people facing a horrific mass suicide event. Elliot and Alma decide to run away from what they believe is a terrorist attack using biological weapons, but what they don’t know is that the neurotoxin causing people to harm themselves is coming from nature itself. Per the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis:
An apocalyptic threat to humanity arrives out of the clear blue sky with a series of violent, inexplicable deaths spreading across the country. The cause of the terrifying phenomenon remains unknown, prompting science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), his wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) and his colleague Julian (John Leguizamo) to try to elude the invisible killer in Pennsylvania’s farmland. Soon it becomes clear that no one is safe.
Does ‘The Happening’ Deserve to Be Revisited and Re-Evaluated?
20th Century Fox
The Happening has been deemed one of Shyamalan’s most divisive movies since its original release in 2008. It’s not The Last Airbender in terms of critical reception, as that movie remains the filmmaker’s lowest rated on Rotten Tomatoes with a 5% critics’ score. It actually falls third on the list of worst-rated Shyamalan movies, with After Earth coming in second with 12%.
The irony is that at one point, The Happening generated buzz. The trailer teased a very different movie. In fact, it made viewers excited. Though 2006’s The Lady in the Water was a critical failure, The Happening showed Shyamalan going back to his horror roots. Bodies falling off the rooftop in the film’s preview teased a chilling experience by the same director who scared worldwide audiences with The Sixth Sense, Signs, and The Village.
However, what the trailer left out was the film’s subtle attempts at humor, questionable performances, and the overall inconsistency of the script. The film made more than $163 million, but that was largely the result of millions being hyped for the director’s return to horror. We’re not saying the film’s great, as it does have its flaws. But it doesn’t deserve nearly as much hate as it’s gotten over the years.
Does The Happening deserve a re-evaluation? Perhaps. Every film deserves a second chance, and the first half of the movie is captivating enough to make you stay. Where the film could use a few tweaks is when the threat is completely revealed. As absurd as it is to make Mother Nature a villain, Shyamalan’s idea is good enough to make you turn your head and revisit a heavily misunderstood movie.
Release Date
June 13, 2008
Runtime
91 Minutes
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