People say that M. Night Shyamlan is the David Blaine of filmmaking, a man with parlor tricks and elaborate illusions of creativity and imagination but I dismiss those claims and still stand by M. Night proclaiming him one of the better storytellers of modern film. Sure, there could be other horror films out there, but in a year generally devoid of horror only with remakes and quasi-horror in theaters and on home video I say that M. Night’s dabbling in the R rated arena was an utter win.
From the gruesome violence to the disturbing self inflicted torture, “The Happening” was an eco-conscious plea from Shyamalan begging us to be aware of our surroundings before someday soon our surroundings do us in. With his own brand of dark humor and sickly demented sight gags, “The Happening” is a twisted post-apocalyptic tale of man kind ultimately becoming the prey to a planet that’s had enough and has decided to fight back. You say M. Night has lost it, but I am one in the minority that rally for “The Happening” and will surely grant it a spot on my top 10 of 2008 as one of the more disturbing visions of our impending natural doom.
As for the DVD, we’re given a healthy dose of extras that try to break down what the film is all about and why M. Night felt the need to include so many unusual elements. We’re given an almost three minute gag reel that’s not so much a gag reel as a montage of the cast goofing around before and after takes on the film. It’s funny, but don’t expect to laugh out loud when the cast is acknowledging the camera man and conducting very brief interviews. There is a great moment where Wahlberg questions a key scene in the film which makes sense and completely baffles Shyamalan. We’re given five deleted scenes with optional Shyamlan commentary, and if you’re willing to see the extended version of the Lion attack, then by all means. Even with the commentary I had to turn my face; it’s just that effective.
I didn’t enjoy the notion that Shyamalan censored himself but then working with the MPAA, it’s understandable. We get a nine minute extra called “The Hard Cut” which explains the seemingly inexplicable shotgun scene, and it makes sense when M. Night breaks it down for audiences. He also talks about why he was compelled to go for an R rating with “The Happening.” There’s the explanation for the survivalist in the last act called “I Hear You Whispering” that really doesn’t do anything but re-iterate what we saw in the movie, there’s “Visions of the Happening” an eleven minute special on—what else?—the making of “The Happening” that shows mostly set ups of shots and M. Night goofing around with the cast.
“A Day for Night” is a bit self important, but an interesting glimpse in to a normal day for Night, and his average day on “The Happening.” It’s only six minutes, so relax you non-fans. Finally, there’s “Elements of a Scene,” a ten minute rundown at the making of key scenes in the story that I won’t give away for you, but even the CGI is disturbing. I love post-apocalyptic horror films and as a rule I generally give M.Night a chance to make his case with his films. “The Happening” was underrated by critics and misinterpreted by audiences, but given time it will find its footing. The DVD treatment is mediocre, nevertheless.