THE VILLAGE (2004)

MORGAN'S RATING

The Village depicts the thrilling tale of an isolated town confronting the astonishing truth that lies just outside its borders. At first glance, this village seems picture perfect, but this closely-knit community lives with the frightening knowledge that creatures reside in the surrounding woods. The evil and foreboding force is so unnerving that none dare venture beyond the borders of the village and into the woods. But when curious, headstrong Lucius Hunt plans to step beyond the boundaries of the town and into the unknown, his bold move threatens to forever change the future of the village.

Bryce Dallas Howard (Ivy Walker), Joaquin Phoenix (Lucius Hunt), Adrien Brody (Noah Percy), William Hurt (Edward Walker), Sigourney Weaver (Alice Hunt), Brendan Gleeson (August Nicholson), Cherry Jones (Mrs. Clark), Celia Weston (Vivian Percy), John Christopher Jones (Robert Percy), Frank Collison (Victor), Jayne Atkinson (Tabitha Walker), Judy Greer (Kitty Walker), Fran Kranz (Christop Crane), Michael Pitt (Finton Coin), Jesse Eisenberg (Jamison), Charlie Hofheimer (Young Security Guard), Scott Sowers (Man With the Raised Eyebrows), Zack Wall (Donald), Pascale Renate Smith (Marybeth), Jordan Burt (12-year-old Boy), Jane Lowe (Brown-Eyed Girl), Charlie McDermott (10-year-old Boy), Robert Lenzi (Young Man), Willem Zuur (Gerald), Liz Stauber (Beatrice), Tim Moyer (Flustered Man), Sydney Shapiro (Oldest Walker Daughter), Mia Rose Colona (Middle Walker Daughter), Chloe Wieczkowski, Sydney Wieczkowki (Youngest Walker Daughter), M. Night Shyamalan (Guard at Desk), John Rusk (Radio Announcer), Joey Anaya, Kevin Foster (Those We Don't Speak Of).

RUN. THE TRUCE IS ENDING.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: M. Night Shyamalan (Signs). WRITER: M. Night Shyamalan. PRODUCERS: Sam Mercer, Scott Rudin, and M. Night Shyamalan. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Jose L. Rodriguez. ORIGINAL MUSIC: James Newton Howard. DISTRIBUTOR: Buena Vista Pictures.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: July 30th, 2004 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: January 11th, 2005 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $50.7 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $113.3 million* (USA) BUDGET: $60 million SHOOTING DATES: October 2003 -- December 2003 - Kirsten Dunst was replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard after dropping out to star in Elizabethtown (2005). Howard was cast without an audition after M. Night Shyamalan saw her perform on stage. - The inspiration of the story comes from two unlikely sources: "Wuthering Heights" for the period drama, and King Kong (1933) for the community living in fear of predatory creatures. - The movie was originally entitled "The Woods" but another studio owned the title. - Alice Hunt tells her son Lucius, played by Joaquin Phoenix, that he reminds her of a colt. In real life, Phoenix was named "The Colt" by Vanity Fair Magazine in 2001. - The role of Lucius Hunt was written for Joaquin Phoenix. - M. Night Shyamalan put the entire cast through a 19th century 'boot camp' in order for them to get a good feel for the time period.  - Although numerous reviews described the action taking place at an "unspecified" time in the 1800s, the gravestone shown prominently at the beginning of the film reveals clearly that the action is intended to be set in 1897. - The movie was filmed in two months and had a $60 million budget. - Sigourney Weaver suffered nightmares for two weeks after reading the script.

QUOTES

Edward Walker: Ivy, try your very best not to scream...

Ivy: When we are married, will you dance with me? I find dancing very agreeable.

Lucius Hunt: Why must you lead when I want to lead?

Edward Walker: We are grateful for the time we have been given.

Ivy: Sometimes we don't do what we want to do because we're afraid that other people will know that we want to do them.

Ivy: Why don't you ever speak what is in your head? Lucius Hunt: Why do you never stop speaking what's in yours?

Alice: And what makes you think that he's interested in me? Lucius Hunt: The way he never touches you.

Kitty Walker: [whispering] Don't let them in!

Brown-Eyed Girl: Heed the warning bell, for they are coming.

Ivy: Papa, I cannot see his color.

Edward Walker: The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.

Ivy: If he dies, all that is life to me will die with him.

Ivy: How is it that you are so brave while the rest of us shake in our boots? Lucius Hunt: I don't think of what might happen, only what must be done.

Lucius Hunt: Do you not wish you had your sight? Ivy: I see the world, Lucius Hunt. Just not as you see it.

Ivy: To sacrifice one love for another love is still not right.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"A bewildering disappointment." -- Desson Thomson, Washington Post

"The Village doesn't pack quite the punch of The Sixth Sense, but it's equal to Shyamalan's last two films." -- Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

"It's tedious instead of provocative and so unconvincing as to be preposterous." -- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

"High on foreboding atmospherics and low on goosebumps." -- Jan Stuart, Newsday