"The Happening" ** (out of four): Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's eco-thriller starts with a clever premise and degenerates into spooky atmospherics, portentous pacing and stiff dialogue.
![the_happening[1].jpg](http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/the_happening%5B1%5D.jpg)
It all starts in Central Park. People begin speaking gibberish, repeating themselves. Then they stop in their tracks and slowly walk backward. After that, it gets ugly - the less said about that the better. This sequence of events, which concludes with an uncomfortably familiar scene at a construction site, provides the chilling opening to "The Happening", the latest puzzling and puzzle-y thriller from famously secretive writer-director M. Night Shyamalan. As the posters proclaim, this film marks the twist-meister's first foray into R-rated territory, and it's clear from these disturbing opening images that he means to take advantage of that freedom. So then, why does what's happening in "The Happening" feel so goofy?
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"Happily, I can say that Mr. Shyamalan dispenses with his typical "twist ending", in favor of one more fitting to the story. As a result, "The Happening" doesn't feel like a cheat (like so many of the filmmaker's previous efforts)."
I'll probably check it out. Though I did feel ripped off by some of his other stuff.