A late 19th-century, isolated Amish-like community lives by strict rules in a valley surrounded by forest, inhabited by creatures that don’t let them enter it.
Box office-wise, it didn’t disappoint. M. Night Shyamalan’s reputation was not what it used to be after Signs (2002), but he was still the golden goose of Hollywood, and people were still fascinated by his third act’s twists. It was the reviews that didn’t do it any favours.
I’ve blamed marketing before, and I strongly believe that this is one of them, too. Getting the crowd intrigued and messing up with their expectations are two different things, separated by an indistinct, fine line. In the end, it can go either way, which is why marketing’s job is so crucial.
The photography is haunting, the score is Oscar-worthy, and the chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Bryce Dallas Howard electrifying. I will say nothing about the plot, as… it is up to you to figure that out.
Watch it as you would The Twilight Zone (1959), having no expectations whatsoever, knowing that nothing is what it seems.
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I quite enjoyed this film. It is what it is. No great surprises but definitely watchable