An Exciting Place To Live
The Village
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, William Hurt
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Movie Help Web Popcorn Kernels:
This is a gripping tale of supernatural dread, all happening to a quiet community living at the end of the 19th century. The story revolves mostly around Lucius Hunt (Phoenix), a quiet young man of noble bearing, and Ivy Walker (Howard), an energetic blind woman who never-the-less sees much, especially what's in his heart. Others, such as the mayor (Hurt) and the mentally-challenged young man (Brody), add their own personalities to this relatively quiet tale. Lucius wishes to leave the village and go to the "city" to get medicine and other supplies, but the elders do not allow anyone to venture forth into the woods, because of "the others".
These rumors come to life as these Others venture into the village, move about in the houses as the people cower in the basements, and leave red marks on the doors. These are warnings, but why? Except for Hunt, nobody wishes to leave. Or is there something else going on? Yes, of course there is, and events unfold with a few pretty good twists and turns. Jerking the plot back and forth is, of course, nothing new to this director, and I think he does a masterful job of doling out just the right amount of suspense before suddenly showing his hand.
I can't go on without revealing more, and that I won't do. This is not a modern horror movie: with slashing knives, blood and guts spattered over the floor, and some nut with a mask. This is a drama with some tense and shocking moments. The characters are full, the mood is right, and the plot is rich. If you are looking for blood and shock-o-rama! you can pass. But if you like a good, taunt story by all means give this one a try.
