Shyamalan's 'the happening': a breezy disaster?

M. Night Shyamalan's 2006 thriller, The Happening, isn't remembered for inducing terror—it's remembered for eliciting laughter. The film, aiming for ecological dread, instead became a cautionary tale of ambition exceeding execution, a cinematic misstep that even Shyamalan’s staunchest defenders struggle to defend.

A premise rooted in nature's fury

The core concept is undeniably intriguing: an unseen force compels people to commit suicide, triggering a mass exodus from Philadelphia as Elliot (Mark Wahlberg) and his wife, Alma (Zooey Deschanel), desperately flee with a friend’s daughter. The film posits a scenario where nature itself turns hostile, a chilling echo of classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, where the threat is insidious and invisible. Shyamalan, reportedly inspired by a road trip through verdant farmlands and a soundtrack of ominous music, envisioned a fable about humanity’s precarious position on a planet that might no longer tolerate its inhabitants.

The problem? The execution falters spectacularly. The narrative lacks a clear roadmap, offering no discernible plan for the protagonists or a tangible antagonist to confront. Two hours unfold as a relentless chase from a breeze, a gentle gust that somehow drives people to self-destruction. And then there's the infamous scene where Wahlberg engages in a lengthy, earnest conversation with a plant—a moment so bizarre it has become a shorthand for the film’s failings.

Critical backlash and a tarnished legacy

The Happening was met with widespread derision upon its release, earning a paltry 17% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics savaged the film's illogical plot, wooden performances, and the absurdity of Wahlberg’s botanical dialogue. While not quite reaching the depths of After Earth, another misfire in Shyamalan’s career, The Happening remains a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked ambition in filmmaking.

Despite its failings, the film does possess a certain morbid fascination. It’s a testament to the fact that even a flawed concept, executed poorly, can spark conversation and become a cultural touchstone—albeit for all the wrong reasons. Catch The Happening tonight, March 26th, on Be Mad (Spanish TV) at 22:55 (peninsular time), if you dare. Just don’t expect a scare; expect a spectacle of cinematic awkwardness.