Featured Audience Ratings

• Emil K

  
  With The Village auteur genius M. Night Shyamalan has made his greatest and most assured film to date. This is strikingly shot and technically perfect film with huge emotional impact and a stellar ensemble cast. Shyamalan's career as a filmmaker has indeed been very impressive… More
  With The Village auteur genius M. Night Shyamalan has made his greatest and most assured film to date. This is strikingly shot and technically perfect film with huge emotional impact and a stellar ensemble cast. Shyamalan's career as a filmmaker has indeed been very impressive in past ten years. It would be understatement to say that Shyamalan's work as a director is highly underrated. It has possibly always been. Maybe his belief and ability to create emotionally powerful fairytales just makes him a easy target for cynical critics and audiences to bash him. For me he seems to become one of the unique storytellers and directors of our times. His films often deal with love, loss, grief, hope, with touches of supernatural and horror. The Village is not an exception with it's highly original subject matter. It has beautiful moments of joy and love, and equally effective moments of pure shock and horror. Somehow Shyamalan succeeds always to meld these elements into something completely unique and wholly of his own. In The Village we can see some intentional echoes of other fairytales like Red Riding Hood in it. Shyamalan likes to inject these kind of elements into his stories just to remind us that the line between real life and fairytales is thin in his films. With The Village Shyamalan makes also a brilliant use of forest and turns it into something truly brooding and enchanting. With fantastic support of photographer Roger Deakins he finds a beautiful menace from the woods of Philadelphia where this film was shot. I would even say that the woods itself becomes a character here. A place of surreal soundscape and twisted brances, that gets underneath your skin with it's eerie atmosphere and looks. One of the biggest discoveries of this film is clearly the brilliant debut performance from gifted actress Bryce Dallas Howard whose blind and goodhearted Ivy Walker becomes the unexpected hero of the story. Her performance is truly powerful to watch. Most of the film's touching moments are involved to her acting and the emotional power she brings in them. The Village is a carefully constructed work of art. In Shyamalan's filmography it stands as his best work along with his Lady in the Water. Here is a film which has special kind of eerie atmosphere. For people who are able to keep their mind open this is a film that will offer one of a kind experience to see something original and haunting. The Village show us Shyamalan working on top of his game. He has made some great films before The Village and there is no doubt that he will continue making them in the future, but it is hard to imagine that he will top The Village ever.

• Eric A

  
  I remember being really excited for this film when the trailers were first released, and excited to finally watch it in theaters. Except when that time finally came, I was extremely let down particularly with the ending. It showed alot of promise in the beginning, but failed to… More
  I remember being really excited for this film when the trailers were first released, and excited to finally watch it in theaters. Except when that time finally came, I was extremely let down particularly with the ending. It showed alot of promise in the beginning, but failed to capitalize on it.

• Carlos M

  
  A mystery-driven allegory that will disappoint those expecting the frightening movie the trailer wants to sell. Those more open-minded, however, will find an interesting film with an evoking cinematography, though the main twist (two, in fact) does not cause the same impact as… More
  A mystery-driven allegory that will disappoint those expecting the frightening movie the trailer wants to sell. Those more open-minded, however, will find an interesting film with an evoking cinematography, though the main twist (two, in fact) does not cause the same impact as Shyamalan's previous films.

• Jeff "

  
  M Night. Shyamalan's The Village started off with a very good premise. The film was scary, and disturbing, and kept you on the edge of your seat until the twist ending. The Village could have been something terrific, but instead it ends up being a dud. This horror suspense film… More
  M Night. Shyamalan's The Village started off with a very good premise. The film was scary, and disturbing, and kept you on the edge of your seat until the twist ending. The Village could have been something terrific, but instead it ends up being a dud. This horror suspense film isn't what it advertises it to be. The film would have been fine just the way it, if it wasn't for the ending. For what is, the first hour was very entertaining, but like I said, the ending ruined the entire film. I felt that Shyamalan had another terrific film under his belt, but alas; it was not to be. The Village ends up being predictable, and near the end you realize what the ending might actually be. Other than the film was well acted, but because of the Shymalan tendency to ruining his films with a twist, the talent involved doesn't save the film from mediocrity. There were some good things about the film, but once everything becomes obvious to the viewer (and it does) you just end up not caring for the film anymore. What was great about Signs was that it had an effective mix of suspense, mystery, thrills and horror to create the tension on screen. Plus the ending wasn't bad whatsoever, and nothing is really explained, not to the fullest at least. But with The Village, everything is explained and it ruins the entire tone of the film. Go in with low expectations so that you're not too disappointed as I was. The Village is a mediocre thriller horror film that doesn't deliver the goods.

• Liam G

  
  I found M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 thriller excellent for the first two-thirds of it. The characters are interesting, the acting all-round is superb, especially from Bryce Dallas Howard. Shyamalan creates numerous moments of tension and suspense and the eery atmosphere really… More
  I found M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 thriller excellent for the first two-thirds of it. The characters are interesting, the acting all-round is superb, especially from Bryce Dallas Howard. Shyamalan creates numerous moments of tension and suspense and the eery atmosphere really works. Not to mention James Newton Howard's score is incredible and one of my all-time favourites now. Everything was great..until the final act. I don't hate the twist as much as others, but it just left me cold. I don't think it is the twist us the audience deserves. Who knows, the twist might make sense, but I think Shyamalan couldn't provided a much more interesting and thought-provoking climax. It doesn't mean the film doesn't get a recommendation from me, as throughout most of it, I was gripped. The acting is superb (though some actors, like Brendan Gleeson, are wasted), the characters and their interactions are always intriguing, the score is outstanding and it has a lot of creepy moments. I just wish the final 20 minutes didn't leave me so unsatisfyed. I will watch it again though and who knows? It may grow on me.

• Kyle F

  
  It might be goofy, but it's so enjoyable to watch! Scares are in short supply, but to make up for it there are a few hilarious parts that aren't supposed to be funny and, on the more commendable side, a great ensemble cast (they've got Jesse Eisenberg!) a good score,… More
  It might be goofy, but it's so enjoyable to watch! Scares are in short supply, but to make up for it there are a few hilarious parts that aren't supposed to be funny and, on the more commendable side, a great ensemble cast (they've got Jesse Eisenberg!) a good score, some pretty nifty style, and some of the most crisp, lush visuals that I have seen on the screen in a long time. It's amazing that there wasn't an art-direction oscar nod here.

• Jim C

  
  While I admired the plot twist ending, the real story has so many holes in it that its annoying. M Night Shymalan is becoming one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood, and he doesn't lose that title with this movie. Itwon't confuse people, but it will make people go like,… More
  While I admired the plot twist ending, the real story has so many holes in it that its annoying. M Night Shymalan is becoming one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood, and he doesn't lose that title with this movie. Itwon't confuse people, but it will make people go like, what the hell am I watching, and why.

• familiar s

  
  Better than I'd expected. The story is quite simple, but Shyamalan manages to raise it above the level by cleverly adding a mystic element to it. You'll be disappointed if you're looking for a horror/alien type of movie or an ending that would leave you shocked and… More
  Better than I'd expected. The story is quite simple, but Shyamalan manages to raise it above the level by cleverly adding a mystic element to it. You'll be disappointed if you're looking for a horror/alien type of movie or an ending that would leave you shocked and surprised. Not a great movie, but surely a good one, IMHO.

• Bentley L

  
  Well shot, well acted, but the movie was indeed pretty slow. The beginning is very intriguing but the movie starts to bore you a little. The movie later picks up and you become interested in the story. I wouldn't consider it a terrible film but it is pretty lame. M. Night… More
  Well shot, well acted, but the movie was indeed pretty slow. The beginning is very intriguing but the movie starts to bore you a little. The movie later picks up and you become interested in the story. I wouldn't consider it a terrible film but it is pretty lame. M. Night Shyamalan needs some serious help with his career.

• Spencer S

  
  Sure, it's creepy, and maniacle, and not M. Night's greatest turn, but that ending really got to me. It stuck in brain.

• Dan S

  
  Arguably M. Night Shyamalan's most under-appreciated films. Now granted, after this movie he fell fast and has lost a lot of credibility. However, this is still a very good film. Bryce Dallas Howard is a revelation, it's always hard to trust first-time actors with a major… More
  Arguably M. Night Shyamalan's most under-appreciated films. Now granted, after this movie he fell fast and has lost a lot of credibility. However, this is still a very good film. Bryce Dallas Howard is a revelation, it's always hard to trust first-time actors with a major film and put most of it on their shoulders - but she's simply phenomenal. The twist at the end is what pisses most people off. I don't get, I thought it was appropriate and not to far-fetched, as well as bravely original.

• Dead A

  
  It was complicated to understand because it wasn't described that much. But I liked it.

• KJ P

  
  Not terrible, but not even good! its one of the most average movies I've ever seen, and the plot line is extremely weak!

• Wahida K

  
  The Idea of the Movie was very interesting but it lacked with some details. Over all enjoyable if you dont count the revealing.

• Conner R

  
  Don't expect anything going in and you will love it, I think the hype really killed this films reputation. I found this to be one of my favorite horrors of the past decade, due to the amount of suspense. It's got a great cast and performances, as well as a moving story. I… More
  Don't expect anything going in and you will love it, I think the hype really killed this films reputation. I found this to be one of my favorite horrors of the past decade, due to the amount of suspense. It's got a great cast and performances, as well as a moving story. I really feel that M. Night Shamalan peaked here, because I just don't think he can get that shock value in anymore. Well worth it though. If you're gonna go out, might as well do it with a movie like this.

• Anthony L

  
  Shyamalan needs to pull out a few new tricks from up his sleeve, that said though, I found this to be quite entertaining!

• jay n

  
  Lame, preposterous drama. For a cast with so many talented actors there are several terrible performances Hurt and Brody are the worst offenders but several others are at best lackluster.

• Tim S

  
  I really dug this one. While not his best work, it is captivating from beginning to end.

• Al S

  
  A masterpiece. It's stunning, riveting, spellbinding and heart-pounding. An edge of your seat suspence-filled thriller thats both brilliant and ingenious. It's mind-blowingly fantastic. It's powerful, chilling, outstanding and deeply moving. A brilliant piece of work.… More
  A masterpiece. It's stunning, riveting, spellbinding and heart-pounding. An edge of your seat suspence-filled thriller thats both brilliant and ingenious. It's mind-blowingly fantastic. It's powerful, chilling, outstanding and deeply moving. A brilliant piece of work. An awsomely intriguing film that leaves it's mark. A great cast of talents. Bryce Dallas Howard is a magnificent new talent. William Hurt gives an excellent performance. Joaquin Phoenix is teriffic. They are all outstanding. It's Director, M. Night Shyamalan's most memerising work yet. He is truly of of the most brilliant and original filmmakers making movies today.

• Film C

  
  omg i thought it was goin to be excellant reli scary but had one scary bit and was a bit dry i thought it was a bit crap

Read all 20 featured audience ratings