re:mote voices

Title:The Village

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

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

The Village is the latest film by director M Night Shyamalan, the man responsible for The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs. Like those previous films, The Village is a down beat and subtle thriller, which as usual does not play to the obvious expectations. As with his previous work, this means that The Village is not to everyone’s taste.

At it’s core The Village is a good vs evil parable – with the inhabitants of the village being good, while those in the wood are evil. To emphasize this basis there is a certain amount of symbology. From the most obvious idea of colour – evil is red, while yellow is more neutral. To the more subtle projection of the villagers as vegetarian, and those in the woods as carnivores, hence killers.

Past the base line play the plot is fleshed out by the relationship between two of the village founder’s children. Alongside which comes the forcible confrontation of the two sides, and in the process exposing the big picture to the viewer. The creatures feel threatened, so they menace the village, but will the village feel the need to enter the woods in order to survive?

M. Night Shyamalan delivers as always with his unique vision. One that layers details into an idea that would be very different in someone else’s hands. Providing a vividly atmospheric experience.