Writer/Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Judy Greer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Joaquin Phoenix
‘A Mesmerizing Masterpiece’
Not many actresses have made movies about which audiences care like Judy Greer. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Greer has made memorable movies. Whether it’s bold screenwriters, apes facing dangers or caring mothers, Greer has played many larger than life characters. Arguably, Greer’s strength as an actress has often been a strong presence. She is one of those rare actresses which has often had an aptitude for stealing the show in supporting roles with limited screen time. An actress with strong commitment towards her craft, Greer has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Through her abilities to craft compelling characters that audiences easily relate to, Greer has become an actress which people value. Although she is often relegated to supporting roles in every movie, Greer has built a lasting legacy. Throughout her amazing career, Greer has made many commemorated movies that are worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Greer and adore all the films she has created in her career. However, “The Village” is my favourite. Released in 2004, M. Night Shyamalan’s horror movie captures the lives of inhabitants in a scary villain. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best horror movies ever made. At centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Judy Greer, who embodies a fearful woman trapped in a frightening village. Ultimately, what makes “The Village” a masterpiece is strong appeal. Unlike most horror movies, it discusses themes everyone would relate to. It delivers a powerful message about terrorism that would resonate with everyone. A thrilling masterpiece about a village which is frightening, there are countless reasons why “The Village” is a movie which is worth seeing.
Set in a Pennsylvania village, “The Village” tells the story of an inhabitants in a village facing damage. Judy Greer portrays Kitty Walker, a young woman living in a village facing disaster. Kitty has always shared a strong bond with her sister Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard), a blind woman. Ivy’s big dream is getting married to the local townsman Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix). However, Kitty’s life is shattered when her village is attacked by big monsters causing disaster. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Kitty soon begins to wonder whether it’s possible for her to have a bright future. Facing monsters that prove to be frightening, Kitty questions whether she can achieve dreams that she is hunting. Lacking courage, Kitty wonders whether she belongs in a doomed village.
M. Night Shyamalan has often been fascinated with themes of terror. A fantastic filmmaker, M. Night Shyamalan has often made captivating horror movies about terror. His Oscar-winning movie “The Sixth Sense” captured the lives of mentally disturbed children that seek therapy. With “The Village”, however, Shyamalan made his first psychological horror movie. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of inhabitants in a village which face tragedy but he succeeds tremendously. Using captivating cinematography, Shyamalan captures an eerie village experiencing tragedy. Evoking Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, Shyamalan effectively uses point of view shots capturing people in a confined village facing tension. Throughout the film, Shyamalan effectively used point of view shots to capture citizens of a village enduring tension. For instance, POV shots enhance the woods scene. During this frightening scene, Ivy ventures into woods coming across creatures which are frightening. One appreciates POV shoes capturing tensions that inhabitants of a village are facing. POV shots are tricky to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” proved clearly, POV shots elevate commemorated horror movies about jaw-dropping sharks. Nevertheless, it works well in this film. Through stunning visuals, Shyamalan captures tensions villagers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Village” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. Shyamalan effectively uses production design to convey inhabitants in a village whose lives decline. Throughout the film, Shyamalan uses set design of a village to capture lives of citizens facing a decline. Shyamalan’s decision to shoot the movie in a real-life Pennsylvania village is risky but it works tremendously. For instance, the set-design of the village elevates the creature attack scene. During this intense scene, the village is attacked by creatures in a painful encounter. Through shooting the film in a real-life village, Shyamalan creates a horror movie audiences can relate to. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. James Newton Howard’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the lives of inhabitants in a frightening village facing despair. Through captivating production, Shyamalan captures inhabitants in a village facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Village” is a horror film about villages which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses silence to convey strong bonds among citizens of a village. For instance, silence elevates the conversation scene. During this haunting scene, Ivy and Lucius have a quiet moment of bonding with each other away from disaster. One admires sequence of silence capturing lives of people in villages facing tension. Through sequences of silence, Shyamalan crafts a strong heroine that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in most films. As Spike Jonze’s “Adaptation” suggested, silence often elevates films about screenwriters. Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” suggested that silence elevates films about grieving families. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Shyamalan captures inhabitants in a doomed village that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Judy Greer delivers one of her greatest career performances as Kitty. Greer earned praise for depicting heroines in romantic comedies. With “The Village”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a fearful woman stuck in a doomed village which faces tragedy she succeeded immensely. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. Greer has often had a flair for playing emotional women facing stress, and “The Village” showcased her strengths as an actress. With riveting expressions, she conveys the angst, grief and resentments of a woman in a doomed village facing tensions. It’s a bold performance from one of the most celebrated actresses today.
Bryce Dallas Howard is fantastic as a blind woman trapped in a doomed village facing tension. Howard has often had an aptitude playing emotional women with success, and “The Village” showcased her strength as an actress. Whether she is expressing love for Lucius or fearfully entering woods which are frightening, Howard uses her body language creating a blind woman that’s compelling. It’s a role that gave the actress a rare chance to show emotional range she hadn’t shown in her career before. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most commemorated actresses in Hollywood today.
The supporting cast is sensational and worthy of appreciation. Adrien Brody is astonishing, capturing eccentric personality of Ivy’s young brother that suffers from grim mental disability. Sigourney Weaver is spectacular, showing the tensions faced by a mother under pressure to keep her children safe from monsters causing disaster. Last, William Hurt merits recognition. As the leader of a village, he brings a sense of wisdom to the movie.
Finally, “The Village” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing the lives of inhabitants in a village. Unlike most horror movies, the film tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It discusses relatable themes including identity, community and terrorism that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the horror genre to appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message about terrorism which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Village” is one of those rare horror movies that everyone will adore.
Fans of Judy Greer will definitely appreciate “The Village” and so will movie-goers which seek terrifying entertainment. A captivating horror classic, it honours a fantastic actress that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking horror film about an isolated village surrounded by creatures that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder of a commemorated actress that has built a huge fan following earning recognition for portraying compelling women in movies which are definitely worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 