Post by moviemouth on Jun 27, 2021 20:43:36 GMT
The reason I figured maybe that was the intention is because "WTF?" and because it came right after Lady in the Water which I do see as a black comedy in ways. I mean this movie involves one character who has been only working out one arm and so he has one skinny arm and one extremely buff arm. It involves a motel janitor who finds a portal to a fantasy world in the motel pool and a fantasy wolf who brutally kills a cynical book critic. This movie was obviously a response to M. Night's critics in regards to The Village and I find that amusing.
Adam Sternbergh: "When The Happening was coming out, you said you wanted it to feel like “the best B-movie you’ll ever see.” In your mind, what characterizes a B-movie? "
M. Night Shyamalan: "I think it’s a consistent kind of farce humor. You know, like The Blob.The campy, 1958 debut of actor Steve McQueen, featuring a mysterious, growing amoeba that takes over a small Pennsylvania town. The key to The Blob is that it just never takes itself that seriously."
A.S.: "Do you feel like people missed that element of The Happening? The self-conscious humor?"
M.N.S.: "I think I was inconsistent. That’s why they couldn’t see it."
M. Night Shyamalan: "I think it’s a consistent kind of farce humor. You know, like The Blob.The campy, 1958 debut of actor Steve McQueen, featuring a mysterious, growing amoeba that takes over a small Pennsylvania town. The key to The Blob is that it just never takes itself that seriously."
A.S.: "Do you feel like people missed that element of The Happening? The self-conscious humor?"
M.N.S.: "I think I was inconsistent. That’s why they couldn’t see it."
Fair enough, but I find the entire premise of Lady in the Water humorous. Either way it is a atmospheric and unique movie that I was never bored by with a strong lead performance from Paul Giamatti. Also, the arm isn't comic relief in the way of a funny character, it is a running sight-gag. Signs is a serious movie that uses humor, but I don't see the movie itself as a comedy.
His comments on The Happening don't have any impact on my opinion, because I already considered that possibility. I am not big on B sci-fi movies in the first place, but the main intention of them is to be entertaining. The Happening is not entertaining and it's barely interesting. It has a decent B-movie premise with a script and directing that fails flat on it's face.