Even when his trademark twist-ending formula wears worrisomely thin as it does in The Village, M. Night Shyamalan is a true showman who knows how to serve up a spookfest. He's derailed this time by a howler of a "surprise" lifted almost directly from "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim," an episode of The Twilight Zone starring Cliff Robertson that originally aired in 1961. Even if you're unfamiliar with that Rod Serling scenario, you'll have a good chance of guessing the surprise, which ranks well below The Sixth Sense and Signs on Shyamalan's shock-o-meter. That leaves you to appreciate Shyamalan's proven strengths, including a sharp eye for fear-laden compositions, a general sense of unease, delicate handling of fine actors (alas, most of them wasted here, save for Bryce Dallas Howard in a promising debut), and the cautious concealment of his ruse, which in this case involves a 19th-century village that maintains an anxious truce with dreadful creatures that live in the forbidden woods nearby. Will any of this take anyone by genuine surprise? That seems unlikely, since Emperor Shyamalan has clearly lost his clothes in The Village, but it's nice to have him around to scare us, even if he doesn't always succeed. --Jeff Shannon

A close knit community lives with the fear of the mysterious danger that lives in the woods around them. Their fear is so great that none dare venture beyond the borders. When one individual plans to step beyond the boundaries his bold move threatens to change their way of life. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Joaquin Phoenix Adrien Brody Run time: 108 minutes Rating: Pg13

This movie was great. Loved the scenery from that era. Ending wasn't what I thought would happen. It definitely left you in suspense.

A well done Hitchcockian tale of twists and surprises. This will keep you biting your nails and guessing right up to the end. Just when you think you've got it figured out, another corner in the maze arrives. As you make the turn, something else is there that you didn't expect. Although the explanation at the end strains credulity somewhat, overall, the film weaves its tapestry of horror and suspense into a cloth, spotted with red, that wraps the viewer in the world and life of "The Village" until its conclusion. Good, solid acting by the cast keeps the storyline believable. A small appearance by M. Night Shyamalan maintains the tradition begun by Alfred Hitchcock in his films. A fun fright for family night. If the review is somewhat cryptic, it's to tempt you to enter "The Village".

I've read some of the many critiscms from other people on this board about The Village, and really can't understand it. Those who say it's not scary enough are really missing the point. OK, so it's being marketed (rather inaccuratly) as a thriller, but it's so much more then that. It's deep and philosophical, and very very clever, and I for one couldn't see the big twist in the story coming. I don't know why some people could as it wasn't the most obvious thing at all. Brilliant brilliant film, and those who keep banging on about it being rubbish really are not understanding the film at all. The performances are first rate, and though it took me a while to get into, once things kick off, it really is something you could discuss all day. A first rate film.

I consider myself somewhat of a fan of this director, and I can't help but feel that "The Village" was somewhat slighted by the mainstream. I found it scary and captivating, as so many other of his films. Not his best work, but it does make for a marvelous period piece that is more intelligent than it is credited. The story itself is not as creative as other pieces, but Shyamalan works well with it, making a truly horrifiying piece of film.

Wow so many people that rate this movie are dumb and have no vision for a good movie! This movie is so damn good! Between the writing, the acting and the music which is so angelic, this is one of my favorite films ever! I hear so many people say they thought this movie was stupid because it wasn't scary. Have they seen M. Night's other movies people? They aren't supposed to be just scary or just one thing, they are always suspenseful, emotional, funny, a little of everything. I look at it more as love story than anything really myself. And in that light it is so beautifully written. Whether you admit it or not, you are shocked at the end and you think "wow could this really happen?" I think this one is tied with Sixth Sense and Sings for me as far as M Night's films go and how emotional they are. 10/10 for me. M Night is a genious!