I was throghfully dissapointed when I saw the movie. I did not think it was that violent, the disturbing part was where the woman stuck a hairpin through her neck, but it was not very realistic, it was just close up. I think the movie had good role models. The characters try very hard to protect each other from the "plague". Overall, the movie was bad, but maybe that was because it was short. Or maybe that's just me. I really do not think the movie deserves an R rating because the violence, although there was a lot throughout the movie, was not very realistic. I didn't even know it was a horror movie until I read this article.
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The Happening
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Horror film is long on peril, but thin on plot.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Happening
Parents need to know that this tense horror film is the first one from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan to earn an R rating -- and for good reason. It's loaded with violent, bloody images and is much more graphic than the PG-13 movies that have earned him a following among teens. It revolves around people falling victim to an airborne toxin that induces suicidal behavior -- consequently, there's a constant stream of self-inflicted deaths throughout the film, many of them quite graphic (falling from heights, gunshots, car crashes, heads going through windows, etc.).
Read our full review by James Rocchi
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about what makes a movie R-rated versus PG-13. Parents, ask your kids' opinion on the difference in the two ratings. Do kids think they're ready to see R movies? Why? Explain why you want them to see things that are age-appropriate, and ask them why they think the studio made Shyamalan's "first R rating" such a big selling point. Families can also discuss what makes a movie scarier -- seeing horrible things happen or anticipating them? Why? Why do people seem so eager to embrace visions of terror and devastation?
Our Members Say
See all 28 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Should not be rated R
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
If you don't mind violence and some language you will love this movie. Although the language is not that bad.
This movie was a very weird movie. Although I must say I loved it. It is very violent. The violence is not constantly like most war movies but this movie is not a war movie and has short scenes of graphic violence. A lady stabs a hair pin into her head, a man jumps off a building, a man runs a large hay cutter over himself, a lady smashes her head into a glass window twice. And a few other less graphic scenes. The language is very mild for an R rating. 1 use of g**d*mn, and a few milder such as p*ss*, h*ll, *ssh*l* and a few slang words. No sexual content what-so-ever. I did love this movie, although I think the like and hate ratio will be 50-50.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
i saw it when i was 12 and it wasn't even that scary! man, some people don't know how to rate movies anymore, i mean, 16 and up? are you kidding me? 12 and up has more sense!
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
i saw it when i was 12 and it wasn't even that scary! man, some people don't know how to rate movies anymore, i mean, 16 and up? are you kidding me? 12 and up has more sense!
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
NOT SCARY for YOUNGER VIEWERS!
This movie wasn't scary at all. It is not scary, a 10 year old would be able to watch this. It just shows dead bodies and a man gets his arm ate of by a lion. It should be rated PG-13 not R!
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Horror Movie??
It should not be passed off as a horror flick or even as rated R. a little language ( that could be said in a PG - 13 movie) blood and suidcidal behavior - all because of grass. and overall it was dumb - worth seeing, but not the greatest movie and kinda dumb if you think about it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
tis movie was ok. not the best. Not horror not drama not thriller not anything just a trying to be good movie that had its moments.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
???
this really sucked- just a lot of scary stuff put together.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
IT'S SUCH A GREAT HORROR MOVIE
Ever since I saw this movie, my new favourite genre of movies is horror. I found this movie unbelievable awesome! Even though lots of people kill themselves. But I don't care. It was soooo cool! I liked the part where this one guy turned this HUGE lawnmower thing on (like it was HUGE) and then he lied on the ground a the huge lawnmower ran over him and it was really weird and it gave me a tingly feeling inside! But I think people who don't mind watching people get killed would enjoy this movie. It was a nice midnight movie to watch! (Even though there is a LOT of screaming in it!)
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
scary and grusome
this was the scaryest movie i have ever seen! it was awsome tho. it was really good! very scary tho 16 and up. do NOT let little kids see it!!!!! the plants cause people to kill them selfs. very graphic!!! when you see this you will know why it is rated R!! no one under 13 at all unless can handle scary movies like chucky!!! more scary then i am legend!!! they kill them self from stabbings to lawn mowers they hang them selfs all of it!
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Disappointing and Needlessly Gruesome
I love M. Night's work. I know a lot of people hated "Lady in the Water" but I think it was his best work. I went to see this movie b/c it was one of his movies. I don't go to see movies in the theatre usually, but I made an exception for this. Was I disappointed! I walked in knowing what the movie was about, including that it would be graphic. I was willing to "go there" with M. Night b/c he'd never steered me wrong before. I am truly disappointed. I can only guess that he needed to get something like this out of his system. I don't mind seeing a movie with violence, gruesome scenes, etc. if there is an actual point to showing it. There was no point in this movie. Except maybe that "the plants are going to get you!" But even that was a weak message. As a survivor of suicide, I really don't appreciate suicide being put into this kind of spotlight. All suicide is senseless in the end, but usually people do have a motivating reason. In the case of this movie, there was no reason. Part of the horror of suicide (and why it is such a taboo) is people want to understand the "why?" In the case of this movie, there is no explanation except misfiring neurotransmitters. I was hoping M. Night would have an insightful look at suicide. I was disappointed yet again. I have to say, he will have to earn my trust back after this movie. No matter how appealing, I will not see it in the theatre. I will not watch this movie again. This movie will not be in my Shyamalan collection. And I would strongly caution anyone before seeing this movie. In fact, I've already been telling people not to see this movie (not something I usually do).
- I rate this title off for age 13 and give it
Very bad B movie
One of the worst movies I have ever seen. The entire Audience Booooooood, and stated " that sucked" This movie was even worse than the movies Beloved and Magnolia. Everyone stayed to the end thinking some big twist was coming that never came. The only people I know that even thought it was OK were Left wing fanatics because of the global warming messages presented. Do not even rent it to see how bad it is. It will just make you mad you wasted 2 hours of your time.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Don't bother!
Worst movie of the year. I love Zoe and Mark... but this sucked.
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
i'm scared to see this movie
I saw the previews, too much sucide in this movie, like when the one women trys to talk to her friends and the friends keeps saying what page i'm on before she kills herself. not for me and kids under 18+
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Fair
I didn't have high expectations for this Shayamalan movie because of his most poorly recent movie Lady in the Water. The movie was ok, it was fun to watch but the plot and the reason for the suicides is kind of stupid and they say it early in the movie so theres no shocking endings in this one. If your a horror fan I say go see it for the chills.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Don't waste your time!
My wife and I are big fans of M Night. But this film --- I don't know what he was thinking when he made this. Lots of suicides, hints that earth is mad at us and to get even with us is to have us commit suicide. I would say it is bazaar, and not worth your time.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
This is the best movie ever! It was a little bit creepy, so I wouldn't recomend that anyong under the age of 12 see it, but if you are 12+, i would deffenatly recomend this movie!
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