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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE VILLAGE
The Village

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The Village (2004)

42%
50%
54%
N/A
N/A
N/A
42 %
Reviews Counted: 193 Fresh: 82  Rotten:111 Average Rating: 5.5/10
 
Consensus: The Village is appropriately creepy, but Shyamalan's signature twist ending disappoints. The Village is appropriately creepy, but Shyamalan's signature twist ending disappoints. more
 
Runtime: 2 hrs
Synopsis:
M. Night Shyamalan's THE VILLAGE finds the renowned writer-director crafting a suspenseful story of a small community whose inhabitants are plagued by fear of the unknown forest that surrounds them. For years, they have kept a truce with mysterious creatures in the woods by vowing never to... [More]
M. Night Shyamalan's THE VILLAGE finds the renowned writer-director crafting a suspenseful story of a small community whose inhabitants are plagued by fear of the unknown forest that surrounds them. For years, they have kept a truce with mysterious creatures in the woods by vowing never to breach a clearly defined border. However, when a young man (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes determined to explore the nearby towns, his actions are met with menacing consequences. Shyamalan continues his remarkable streak of entrancing and entertaining thrillers (THE SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE, SIGNS) with THE VILLAGE. A meticulous filmmaker, Shyamalan displays his penchant for setting up a fascinating atmosphere in every aspect of the movie, from its distinctive color scheme to its intentionally genteel dialogue to its outstanding cinematography, courtesy of Roger Deakins. Renowned cast members Phoenix, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Adrien Brody are excellent, but the true standout is Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of director Ron Howard), who embodies the heart of the film with her vulnerable but fiercely vital performance. Like Shyamalan's other movies, THE VILLAGE has a distinct twist that offers shocking revelations, but this film's overwhelming sense of menace is what is sure to resonate with viewers long after it's over. [Less]

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Adrien Brody

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Screenwriter: M. Night Shyamalan
Producer: Scott Rudin, Sam Mercer
Composer: James Newton Howard

DVD Info

Release:

Nov 1, 2005

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
  • French - (unspecified)

Additional Release Material:

  • Additional Footage - 1. BRYCE'S DIARY
  • 2. M. NIGHT'S HOME MOVIE
  • Making Of - 1. DECONSTRUCTING THE VILLAGE

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Production Photo Gallery

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review | Comment
02/09/06 03:16 AM
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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A powerful tale of isolationism, a desire for innocence and hope, and a fear of the unknown.

Full Review | Comment
09/19/04 05:20 AM
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image

The Village is both atmospheric and beautifully shot, but the end result is deeply disappointing.

Full Review | Comment
08/19/04 10:16 PM
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image

Go in with a snide attitude, desperate to see The Sixth Sense director fail, and you'll leave with your prejudices underpinned. Better to embrace the experience and allow Shyamalan to show off his sublime gift for suspense.

Full Review | Comment
08/19/04 10:16 PM
Nev Pierce
BBC
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Made with such elegance, atmosphere and wonderfully mannered performances it will nestle deep inside your head, refusing to budge.

Full Review | Comment
08/19/04 10:16 PM
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
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Another voluptuous piece of tension and Shyamalan's best work since The Sixth Sense

Full Review | Comment
08/19/04 03:52 AM
James Christopher
Times [UK]
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Shyamalan surpasses his best to deliver an utterly accessible and totally enthralling film, one of the most original works to hit the big screen in recent years.

Full Review | Comment
07/25/04 08:17 AM
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus
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Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
12/27/07 03:15 AM
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Ratings Image

Village idiot.

Full Review | Comment
08/05/07 08:34 AM
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Ratings Image

In a time when Hollywood is more interested in remakes and sequels than in original movies, Shyamalan continues to tell new stories. And he's really good at it.

Full Review | Comment
11/10/06 09:54 AM
Lisa Ann Cockrel
Christianity Today
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
07/22/06 03:39 AM
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
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It’s hard to care about situations that have been designed only to obscure the ultimate twist.

Full Review | Comment
05/04/05 09:50 PM
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
Ratings Image

Picturesque, slightly haunting but silly in a frustrating way.

Full Review | Comment
04/02/05 10:59 PM
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Ratings Image

A timely mention of the ways that violence begets violence, and in how effective terror can be in keeping people under control.

Full Review | Comment
04/01/05 09:39 AM
Brian Juergens
Freeze Dried Movies
Ratings Image

Shyamalan can't brings himself to abandon the familiar. Until he does, however, he's just going to keep coming back with diminishing returns.

Full Review | Comment
03/05/05 10:36 PM
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic
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It is not a bad film, despite its goofy plot, thanks to top-flight acting.

Full Review | Comment
02/05/05 12:20 PM
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
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[The love story] between the two young, uncorrupted stars suffuses the entire movie and has made me forgive, if not forget, the movie's flaws.

Full Review | Comment
01/13/05 10:53 AM
Alan Dale
Blogcritics.org
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... a Sleepy Hollow-like folk tale that is light on character development and heavy on symbolism and suggestion.

Full Review | Comment
12/31/04 02:12 PM
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Ratings Image

...an enigma to which each viewer must bring something and from which each viewer will most likely take something away. In my case, I brought a lot more than I took away.

Full Review | Comment
12/27/04 09:49 AM
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
Ratings Image

Still one inventive, scary and heartfelt movie.

Full Review | Comment
11/09/04 12:56 PM
John W. Bowen
Rue Morgue Magazine
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