Zip.ca - The Village

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Cast:

(Lucius Hunt)

(Ivy Walker)

(Noah Percy)

(Edward Walker)

Directed By:

*M. Night Shyamalan

The Village

M. Night Shyamalan, the creative mind behind The Sixth Sense and Signs, wrote and directed this characteristically atmospheric thriller. The rustic village of Covington is a small town in rural Pennsylvania that is home to 60 souls. The citizens of Covington lead a quiet and peaceful life, but not without an unusual caveat -- terrible creatures lurk just outside the borders of the village, and the people of Covington have reached an agreement of sorts with the beasts, in which they are allowed to go about their business as long as they never cross the village's boundaries. However, this precarious balance is upset when a headstrong young man, Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix), decides to find out what lies outside Covington, and unwittingly invites the wrath of the creatures upon the town. The Village also stars Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Adrien Brody, Judy Greer, and Bryce Dallas Howard; both Kirsten Dunst and Ashton Kutcher were at one time attached to the project, but both left the cast before filming began. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Member Reviews

American Gothic Tale Succeeds - bwod010253

For mature film-lovers, M.Night Shyamalan's "The Village" is a richly beautiful, cinematic experience. While some might compare this work to the director's previous endeavors, and condemn it as simplistic and unbelievable, I would like to say that it entertains on multiple levels.
Visually, it is stunning in a subtle way. Lot's of muted tones, accentuated with occasional highlights. The acting is first class. And the sound/score is haunting.
I was taken by the acting of Bryce Dallas Howard, and her innocent beauty. Her character is feisty, as well. Incidentally, she is the daughter of actor/director Ron Howard.
The plot twists work just fine, and at times I was truly frightened. Rent this dvd, and you won't be dissapointed.

One Of Shyamalan's Weaker Efforts - revsdd

I've liked a lot of M. Night Shyamalan's movies, ("Signs" and "The Sixth Sense" jump to my mind) but to me "The Village" didn't live up to expectations. The mystery of this movie about a village faced with mysterious creatures living in the woods surrounding it isn't particularly well-hidden. I figured that out about half way through when I realized that one of the men was wearing a very modern-looking suit, whereas the movie sets you up to think of this as being set somewhere in the past. I realized at that point that what we were dealing with here wasn't really a horror movie; it was more of a psychological study of what was essentially cult-like behaviour: a group of people who have chosen to isolate themselves from society, and who use fear as a method of mind-control to prevent people from leaving. In that, it didn't really provide anything of earth-shaking importance - it simply painted a portrait of life in this "village," and it did so with a number of problems hanging over it. To me, it was inconceivable that such a village could be kept totally isolated, given the need for people in the "real world" to guard it (as the ending of the movie makes clear.) That bit of unreality aside, the predictability of the story took a lot of enjoyment away from it, as did the strange decision to have the characters speak in that stilted manner of speech that they used. That seemed to have no logical purpose other than to create an atmosphere that convinces you that you're dealing with a community that existed generations ago. Why would they adopt that manner of speech? What difference would it make to them? It didn't make sense, and it became quite annoying after a while. With the words used and the way the lines were being delivered, it was kind of like watching a movie that starred a cast of emotionless and over-proper Vulcans (if you get the Star Trek analogy.) I have to say that Shymalan can do (and has done) better.

One of M. Night's Best! (Spoilers) - pommedespace

When I Zipped this movie I’d only seen it once before, and I’ve been a staunch defender of it ever since. This is one of those movies you need to watch alone if you love it, because there are so many aspects of this film that another person could outright loathe, and if you love the movie (as I do) you’re just going to spend 2 hours cringing and hoping your friend doesn’t hate it as much as you think they probably do.

The acting is wooden – yes. “Wooden” is one of the sole and best descriptions of the acting style that I’ve seen in online reviews, and it’s always used negatively. But if you remember that these are stricken people who are on a radical flight from evil, who probably know very little about how life was really lived in the 1800s, which is the time period they’re trying to replicate, and are left imitating the speech of period pieces and classic, propriety-obsessed novels, it is fitting that they speak the way they do. It’s a very particular type of acting that I’ve seen nowhere else in a film – it’s badly but touchingly imitative. And their children, raised in this environment, would naturally speak the same way. That’s my answer to the biggest complaint I’ve read about this movie. The acting isn’t bad: it’s perfect.

There is a lot to love and appreciate about this movie. The idea is fascinating, disturbingly possible, and even compelling. The acting is singular, the characters are movingly innocent and extremely, desperately sad. It is hauntingly filmed and well-paced, and it leaves just enough to the imagination. Its message about evil is both bleak and hopeful. Re-watching this movie made me even more depressed about “The Happening.”

Member Reviews Read All...

American Gothic Tale Succeeds - bwod010253

One Of Shyamalan's Weaker Efforts - revsdd

One of M. Night's Best! (Spoilers) - pommedespace

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The Village

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