Suicide thiller slated in reviews

Updated 21.05 Sat Jun 14 2008

Keywords: The Village, Signs, Sixth sense, Mark Wahlberg, M Night Shaymalan, ITN, news, movies, films, entertainment, goss, showbiz, Friday the 13th, The Happening

The latest offering from director M Night Shaymalan has been slated at the box office.

The director of the Sixth Sense and Signs has delivered the usual broody air of foreboding that has been a trademark of his films in his latest film The Happening, which has launched at the box office.

"I don't save the world, I don't shoot up anybody. I just try to survive" - Mark Wahlberg

In the film, an airborne toxin is released causing victims to kill themselves in horrific ways. Those horrors land abruptly and mysteriously as crowds in New York's Central Park become disoriented one morning and then start killing themselves savagely.

At first, it is assumed this is a terrorist attack. But as the day wears on, observers realise that the source of the deadly toxin may be extra terrestrial.

Science teacher Elliot Moore played by Mark Wahlberg and wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) flee the city by train along with his buddy Julian (John Leguizamo) and his 8-year-old daughter, Jess (Ashlyn Sanchez).

Stranded in rural Pennsylvania, Julian heads off to search for his missing wife, leaving his daughter in the care of Elliot and Alma, who join other survivors escaping toxin.

Although Wahlberg is more well known for playing tough guy, action types, Shyamalan said he was the number one choice for the role.

Wahlberg confirmed that taking on the role was a different experience for him.

"I don't save the world, I don't shoot up anybody. I just try to survive," he said, adding, "I don't get to play those parts that often. So it was a very no brainer for me."

The film has opened in the US to disappointing reviews, and is being criticised for a lack of direction.