Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Spencer Breslin and Alan Ruck.
Plot: a series of horrific suicides have the East Coast in a panic – is it terrorists? Or is it that nature has had enough of us
Mark Wahlberg is a science teacher (which he plays quite well) whose best friend, John Leguizamo, a fellow teacher, hates Mark’s wife, Zooey Deschanel, because he thinks she cheated on him. And all this drama plays out while people are committing suicide in the most horrific ways, including throwing themselves off buildings (as seen above). It’s a very dramatic film, but it also finds little ways to be funny. Points there.
Our thoughts on the plot and the film itself is this – we love them!! High points for innovation. The grizzly, bloody death scenes are wonderful (although we do wish some people had made it to the end). It’s smart and realistic. Not everyone thought that nature would be the cause of such dread. Even at the end some people were unsure of what had happened. Which, let’s face it, would happen in real life. Even viewers of the film scoff at the premise thinking it could never happen. However, scientifically speaking, there are many plants with defense mechanisms that can kill their “predators” and several plants that can take full-size human beings down.
We thought the acting was enjoyable, the plot was highly original and most of the people were likable, which made certain death scenes very sad. The motive was marvelous. It followed the rules of science and nature. Great script, a shitload of thrilling effects, a fabulous story. The opening was terrific; definitely one that stays with you long after the movie is over. The ending was perfect and did the same thing. Wasn’t a jump/scare sort of movie although the old woman was creepy as shit. This is our favorite of M. Night’s movies. We both love nature and we cannot imagine that anyone else who loves nature would dislike this movie.
In our horror loving minds we would actually love for this shit to actually happen. To us, it’s the same as waiting for the zombie apocalypse. And this movie is made for me. The animals and the plants were in it together. The plants didn’t attack the animals. The animals didn’t die! Just the people did!!! I cannot begin to explain how much I love this. And DJ would have actually liked this movie pushed a little further. I’m not going to give away the ending, but I will say that DJ wished it had been more “globally scaled”.
We both give it a 93/100. If they had pushed it a little further, it could have gotten a perfect score.
“You know plants have the ability to target specific threats. Tobacco plants when attacked by heliothis caterpillars will send out a chemical attracting wasps to kill just those caterpillars. We don’t know how plants obtain these abilities, they just evolve very rapidly.”
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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