The Happening

Name: The Happening
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: June 13, 2008
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 34
Cast: John Leguizamo, Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel

2008

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 754 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 754 Ratings

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The Happening

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: June 13, 2008 | R

Starring: John Leguizamo, Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel

Summary: It begins with no clear warning. It seems to come out of nowhere. In a matter of minutes, episodes of strange, chilling deaths that defy reason and boggle the mind in their shocking destructiveness, erupt in major American cities. What is causing this sudden, total breakdown of human behavior?For Philadelphia high school science teacherIt begins with no clear warning. It seems to come out of nowhere. In a matter of minutes, episodes of strange, chilling deaths that defy reason and boggle the mind in their shocking destructiveness, erupt in major American cities. What is causing this sudden, total breakdown of human behavior?For Philadelphia high school science teacher Elliot Moore what matters most is finding a way to escape the mysterious and deadly phenomenon. (Twentieth Century Fox)… Expand

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

William Arnold

An unapologetic B-movie. Read full review

Stina Chyn

Whether you’re a casual or an ardent follower of M. Night Shyamalan's films, The Happening could alienate or dominate your thinking cap. Remember--it's perfectly acceptable to laugh one second and shriek the next. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Some sure symptoms: The movie demonstrates a smart movie geek's obsession with the rhythms and gory details of horror storytelling, undermined by a pompous insistence on spiritual lessons of the tritest kind. Read full review

Dana Stevens

The old-school horror tricks (the fake scare followed by a real one, the safe haven that isn't) feel more like cribbing than homage, but they get the job done. Read full review

Maitland McDonagh

M. Night Shyamalan's sixth film mines a rich lode of end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it clichés, but while the set up is spooky, the development is heavy handed and marred by Shyamalan's inability to write natural-sounding dialogue or convincing characters. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

He still sees dead people, only now they're the best thing in the movie. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

The Happening makes you wonder whether Mr. Shyamalan's own switch may have been flipped. How else to explain his film's befuddling infelicities, insistent banalities, shambling pace and pervasive ineptitude? Read full review

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User Reviews

IsaacC

Jan 3, 2010

Finally Score = Planet 1, Humans 0, I see Genius where humans took a back seat and you can tell by these ignorant reviews how lost we really are and sensitive to the possibility of nature being sensitive and defensive too. Truly a masterpiece and respects to all participants in down playing Finally Score = Planet 1, Humans 0, I see Genius where humans took a back seat and you can tell by these ignorant reviews how lost we really are and sensitive to the possibility of nature being sensitive and defensive too. Truly a masterpiece and respects to all participants in down playing humans and upscaling the breathing breeze.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful

CharlesX

Jun 24, 2008

Holley Joel Osment, Abigail Breslin, Bryce Dallas Howard and others were well known all around the world thanks to Night S. ...will happened one more time. ah, I like it very much, much much!.