It's not a horror story, but a love story.
A girl who is blind and has been taught to fear the outside world her whole life, ventures out alone to save the life of the man she loves. It's actually kind of beautiful when you think about it.
The trailers would have you believe that Lucius would be the brave one, and end up being the hero. But Ivy is the real hero.
"The force. It's calling to you. Just let it in."
I think one of the reasons the movie received such mixed reviews was that it was marketed as a horror story rather than a gothic romance. I found some elements like the cinematography quite lovely though I had issues with the stilted language of the script. It wasn't really a commercial movie which turned a number of people off. Still, despite its flaws, it made money.
shareAgreed.
shareI thought that that language/the way they spoke was in tune with the period they were living in (late 1800's). If you watch it again, the part where they're discussing and arguing about Ivy leaving, the elders language/the way they talked changed to a more modern form.
Great movie with an nice original story.
Hi mikemike32170,
The language was one of my issues with the film. Although people wrote formally in the late 19th century, they used contractions in their speech. I found it stilted even before they revealed the plot twist.
I would venture to guess that the elders used 19th century way of speaking to remind themselves not use 20th century terms that would reveal technology that exists in the outside world.
shareHi waynes-88150,
I think Shyamalan should have studied more novels written in the 19th century to capture the verbiage. Americans wrote formally, but used contractions in their speech. Everyone I've read, Twain, Warton, James, used contractions. It sounded stilted rather than like authentic 19th-century American.
I think that was the point. The elders weren't around in the time period they created for their village. So they wouldn't be using perfect language of the time. They did and taught what they knew and what they thought would work for their new lives.
shareHere's a completely different explanation. The William Hurt character and his cohorts are meant to be highly intelligent, successful people who dropped out of society because of violence, etc. The slightly rigid speech pattern the characters have is perhaps a result of these children being taught proper 19th century English out of a college textbook.
Along similar lines, look at how everything in the village looks well constructed and symmetrical, almost as if it were a result of more modern building technologies.
The first time one see's this film, these are hints at a twist.
It's not a horror story, but a love story.
This is absolutely one of my favorite movies! My favorite scene was when the creature was in the village and everyone was running into their cellars for safety, Ivy was on the porch holding her hand out for Lucius and he took it just in time. I loved how they showed that in slow motion, every time I watch it I rewind that scene a few times because I think it's so beautiful and powerful!
shareThis is absolutely one of my favorite movies! My favorite scene was when the creature was in the village and everyone was running into their cellars for safety, Ivy was on the porch holding her hand out for Lucius and he took it just in time. I loved how they showed that in slow motion, every time I watch it I rewind that scene a few times because I think it's so beautiful and powerful!
I completely agree and feel the same way about all of M. Night's movies. They were all, except 6th Sense, marketed wrong and that killed his box office potential to nonfans.
shareThe marketing definitely made it out to be some horror story.
The way they sold it, it looked like these creatures would invade the village, and send the townspeople scurrying into the woods, where they'd be picked off one-by-one.
"Thanks, guys." "So long, partner."
- Toy Story 3 (9/10)
I agree.
share