The Happening

Okay, somebody really needs to take that movie camera away from M. Night Shyamalan before he hurts himself (Lord knows he's already inflicted enough pain on us). The director's nearly unbearable latest effort revolves around unexplained outbreaks of mass suicide in major metropolitan areas throughout the Northeast. Convinced that an unidentified weapon of mass destruction is being used by terrorists, the government orders widespread evacuations, but the “epidemic” rapidly spreads to the hinterlands, where tiny bands of survivors try to take evasive action. The Happening focuses on a high-school science teacher and his inexplicably troubled wife (Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel), who flee to rural Pennsylvania. Aside from devising myriad ways for people to kill themselves (lying down in front of giant lawnmowers, driving into trees, diving through plate-glass windows), the film doesn't offer much in the way of plot development as it lethargically moves towards a totally unsatisfying climax that presents only a vague explanation for the toxic outbreak. The movie tries to tap into post-9/11 fears, but it's hard to be afraid when you're falling asleep from boredom. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” featurette (12 min.), deleted scenes (12 min.), an “Elements of a Scene” anatomy of the crash scene (10 min.), “The Hard Cut” featurette on the film's R-rating (9 min.), “A Day for Night” behind-the-scenes featurette (7 min.), “I Hear You Whispering” on the close of the film (4 min.), a three-minute gag reel, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a “bonus view” trivia track, and the featurettes “Forces Unseen” (5 min.) and “Train Shooting” (4 min.). Also included is a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (E. Hulse)