The Happening Blu-ray Review

The Happening" arrives on Blu-ray with a seamless, well-executed 1080p video presentation that is both sharp and faithful, framed at 1.85:1. Despite the transfer's slightly dull appearance portraying a consistent and running visual theme of pale and diluted colors, it provides a solid high-definition experience that transcends its few shortcomings. The movie’s initial scenes, particularly in the classroom, exhibit excellent depth and lifelike imagery, with outdoor scenes displaying natural texture and color, contributing to the film’s overall theatrical presence. While the transfer may not be the epitome of "eye candy," detail in close-ups is notably impressive, showcasing realistic skin textures, crisp facial details such as pores, wrinkles, and hair, against a backdrop of intentionally subdued colors that still manage to offer a slice of vibrancy.

In terms of technical execution, the Blu-ray showcases commendable detail in both exterior and interior shots with precision, ensuring that elements like grass fields and fine actor details are never smeared or poorly rendered. The constant light layer of grain preserves the filmic look without compromising image clarity, emphasizing the natural cinematic quality. Skin tones, despite tending towards the ghastly because of the film’s unique color grading, are never distracting enough to disrupt viewer immersion.

Moreover, the digital transfer is free from significant issues such as artifacting, noise, or edge enhancement, standing as a testament to Fox's commendable effort in creating a visually appealing high-definition experience. Although slight challenges in image resolution in dark scenes, occasional inconsistent delineation, and room for contrast improvement are noted, these minor drawbacks do not detract significantly from an otherwise impressive presentation. This Blu-ray edition undoubtedly offers a substantial upgrade over its DVD counterpart and represents the definitive version for those intrigued by the film's peculiar charm.

The audio track of "The Happening" on Blu-ray, enveloped in a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, exhibits a performance that swings between impressively immersive and somewhat disappointing moments. The opening credits bolstered by an orchestral score set an anticipative tone, albeit falling short of delivering a truly enveloping auditory experience often achieved by the pinnacle of lossless tracks. As the scene transitions to Central Park, a dynamic soundscape of bustling sounds from footsteps to distant conversations effectively plunges the viewer into the crowded milieu. Subsequent city scenes alive with the hustle of police cars enhance this immersion. However, an overarching sense of artificiality shadows these positives, notably with sound effects and dialogues appearing overly dramatized and lacking a natural fluidity.

Dialogue delivery across the board maintains clarity and proper prioritization, ensuring key narrative elements are never lost amidst the mix. The soundtrack takes a front-heavy approach, especially prominent during dialogue-driven sequences, before daringly expanding into the rear channels during moments of escalated tension or environmental chaos—most notably when wind plays a pivotal role, showcasing transparent directional shifts that offer a convincingly three-dimensional auditory illusion. Nonetheless, this commendable handling of ambiance and discrete sound elements is intermittently marred by the erratic presence of the film's score. It either intrudes with overbearing presence or recedes too abruptly, failing to harmonize with the soundscape and occasionally detracting from the cinematic immersion.

While the audio presentation stands out for its ability to convey a rich tapestry of environmental sounds and crisply rendered dialogue, it grapples with maintaining a consistent balance between music and diegetic sound. Despite these qualms, the track succeeds in sculpting pivotal scenes with notable depth and dimensionality, although the overall experience might feel somewhat contrived due to an erratic score and a predisposition towards an exaggerated soundscape. The nuanced strength in transparent directional effects and solid LFE support partially offsets these drawbacks, marking the audio experience as notably ambitious, if not entirely seamless.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Happening" offer a mixed bag that both enriches and confounds. M. Night Shyamalan's film is supplemented by a wide range of features, including the notable Bonusview with Trivia Track that brings an interactive layer to the viewing experience with behind-the-scenes footage and trivia pop-ups. Though some may find the additional content lacking a director’s commentary, there’s plenty to dive into, from the technically insightful to the candidly amusing. The inclusion of exclusive featurettes and the commendable high-definition presentation of both the film and its supplementary material will satisfy enthusiasts and completists alike; however, the overall package may feel a bit sparse to those seeking a deeper dive into Shyamalan's creative process. Despite this, the diversified content from detailed production featurettes covering everything from cast performances to effects work, to the inclusion of deleted scenes for the curious, guarantees there’s something of interest for fans of the film or the filmmaker.

Extras included in this disc:

Bonusview with Trivia Track: A Profile 1.1 feature providing pop-up trivia and behind-the-scenes footage.

Train Shooting: Insights into a key scene's filming location and execution.

The Hard Cut: Exploration of the film's violence contrasted with Shyamalan's other work.

Forces Unseen: Looks into the creation of the film's unconventional enemy and visual effects.

I Hear You Whispering: Focus on the character Mrs. Jones and her significance in the story.

Gag Reel: High-definition outtakes from the film.

Deleted and Extended Scenes: Four scenes with optional director introductions.

The Happening -- Visions of 'The Happening:' A Making Of: Additional background on the film’s concept and production.

A Day For Night: Candid look at Shyamalan during a typical day of principal photography.

Elements of a Scene: Examination of storyboard, Pre-Viz sequences, and scene creation.

Digital Copy: The film's digital copy tailored for computers and select portable devices, promising decent picture quality.

M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening," seen through the eyes of critics, might signal a nadir in the celebrated director's career, blending a promising concept with execution that leaves much to be desired. Despite Shyamalan's reputation for crafting films with gripping premises and unexpected twists, this entry puzzles with its lack of coherent plotting, underwhelming character development, and a bewildering mismanagement of its cast's talents. Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, and John Leguizamo's performances are notably critiqued, with Wahlberg's interactions with inanimate nature becoming an unintended focal point for ridicule. Their endeavors as characters to understand and survive a baffling pandemic that induces mass suicides across the Northeast are embroiled in poorly constructed narrative arcs and inexplicably illogical decisions.

“The Happening” strives to weave an environmental cautionary tale but unravels into a schlocky spectacle that neither thrills nor entertains. Critics lampoon the film's attempt at suspense, panning its reliance on mundane elements like plants and the wind as sources of terror, which fails to resonate or invoke the intended sense of dread. The direction is deemed uninspired, betraying the once masterful touch of Shyamalan, whose work here feels like a far cry from the ingenuity displayed in "The Sixth Sense" or "Signs." The narrative's pacing is erratic, with critic reviews highlighting an overly rapid descent into absurdity and a conclusion that leaves audiences more confounded than satisfied. This disjoint exercise in storytelling exacerbates the film's inability to fulfill the genre expectations it sets up for itself.

Ultimately, "The Happening" stands as a bewildering chapter in Shyamalan’s filmography, marred by its inexplicable plot decisions and a disappointing squandering of its conceptual potential. The director's hallmark suspense is notably absent, replaced by a concoction of unintentional comedy and narrative incoherence that challenge even his most ardent fans' faith. Critics express regret that such a promising idea was not only inadequately explored but also turned into what some might call an egotistical endeavor that fails to deliver on any front. Despite sympathetic nods to the actors caught in this cinematic quandary, the film is largely regarded as a missed opportunity for Shyamalan to redeem his storytelling prowess, instead possibly cementing his decline in the contemporary cinematic landscape.

In assessing the Blu-ray edition of "The Happening," it's evident that the disc itself outshines the content it carries. The film, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, is described as a considerable letdown, characterized by subpar acting, a directionless narrative, and an overall execution that falls dramatically short of the expectations set by the film's marketing materials. Viewers are advised to perhaps enjoy the trailer instead, which misleadingly portrays a far more engaging experience than the full 90 minutes deliver—a sentiment echoed across general audiences and Shyamalan enthusiasts alike.

The technical presentation of the Blu-ray, however, stands in stark contrast to the film’s reception. Equipped with satisfactory video and audio quality, it substantially improves upon the standard DVD viewing experience. The Blu-ray version also includes a solid array of bonus materials, offering something of value to those few who count themselves as fans of the film. It's suggested that for those with a penchant for cinematic exploration, despite the overarching negative feedback, this edition may warrant a rental for its enhanced audiovisual fidelity alone.

Conclusively, while "The Happening" itself is broadly criticized for failing to deliver a coherent or compelling narrative, the Blu-ray edition salvages some merit through its technical presentation. The improved audio and visual quality, coupled with a decent collection of extras, may mildly appease enthusiasts determined to add this title to their collection. Nevertheless, given the overwhelming disappointment expressed toward the film's substance, potential viewers are advised to carefully consider whether the high-definition experience justifies the investment, or if their resources, both financial and temporal, might be better allocated elsewhere.