The Village: The M. Night Shyamalan Film

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The Village set in 1987 about a small utopian community nestled in a valley cloaked by dark forests. Isolated from the world, the villagers are taught of the threat of the woods, never enter in fear of the “those we don’t speak of” (IMDb). Life within the borders looks picture-perfect and all is justifiable with this jovial community, save the fearful reminder of what lies within the woods. The peaceful village within Covington Woods in rural Pennsylvania, is led by a group of elders including Edward Walker (William Hurt), Alice Hunt (Sigourney Weaver) and August Nicholson (Brendan Gleeson) to name a few. What materializes is a coming of age young adults Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix), Ivy Walker (Bryce Dallas Howard), and Noah Percy (Adrien Brody) (IMDb). All seems perfect until strange events start occurring and darkness descends on the village as a voyage to the towns becomes life or death. Director Shyamalan, according to Roger Ebert, “is a director of considerable skill who evokes stories out of moods” (Ebert). This is evident with the M. Night Shyamalan film The Village released in 2004 while developing his signature styles: twist ending, colors, camera angles/styles, Pennsylvania …show more content…

In the case of The Village, Shyamalan alludes we are going on a psychological thriller ride. If you rely on the movie poster alone, you know: “Let the bad color not be seen. It attracts them. Never enter the woods, that is where they wait. Heed the warning bell, for they are coming" (IMDb). Those one liners set the emotion of fear and discomfort before even watching the movie. You see a village covered by a yellow filter in the background being overshadowed by dark woods, a dark figure lurking wearing a red cloak looming in the corner. “Judging a book by its cover,” sign me up Shyamalan, I am ready to be scared, have my mind thrilled and twisted, while I watch for signature twist and escape into another

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