Sat through an interesting movie trailer tonight before the preview screening of “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
The movie, called “Devil” and hitting theaters Sept. 17, is partially set in a stalled elevator, and when the lights flicker out for a moment something terrible happens.
Not your typical slasher film, no doubt. And my fellow audience members seemed equally intrigued.
Then … the screen flashed, “from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan …” and the audience erupted with laughter.
Not a few chuckles, mind you. A wave of tittering, and the trailer’s spell was broken. The formerly silent audience members started talking amongst themselves and swapping Shyamalan jabs.
UPDATE: My experience wasn’t an isolated event, apparently.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m just not sure what to expect. Producers are betting that Knight can still bring in $$ with his name alone? Its just sad because of some early brilliance in movie making. Plus, are people able to watch again some of those earlier films with feelings of suspense? We know the outcome. They’re suppose to be surprises. Its not the same as watching Star Wars or Aliens for the 30+ time. The cat was out of the bag the first go around. Unbreakable is probably the only one I can keep watching because of the layers of stories involved. Maybe its my superhero fantasy that does it. At lease its a really good film.
I think this guy needs to go underground and make some small indie films. Make some shorter films and get the stories right. Pal up with some other famous directors or producers. Do something different but get it straight. Maybe at this point in his directing career there 3-5 people behind him calling the shots? Maybe its just Hollywood arrogance.
If I were a producer I’d be burying his name somewhere among the Key Grips and Best Boys. Although there is probably some guild rule against that.
I still love the Sixth Sense. I think it was one of the best films of the 90’s and still delivers even after you know all the twists and turns. Shyamalan knows how to direct. He can frame a shot and build tension like few others today. I thought he should have tried directing someone else’s story, but the effects-heavy Airbender mess was not what I had in mind. Since 2/3rds into Signs his career has been a series of bad scripts, bad choices, and an overestimation of talent so egregious it should be criminalized.
After posting my comment I discovered that Night did in fact write Airbender, so he has never directed a film he hasn’t also written. I would suggest maybe he should go find a script he could direct but I doubt his judgment is good enough to find the right project.