Last year, Hollywood was abuzz with excitement over the little hyped film “The Sixth Day” that had become a huge hit, and had turned its young writer director M. Night Shyamalan into one of the hottest properties overnight. The film went on to break the 200 million mark, and entered the phrase “ I see dead people” into the American lexicon.
The only question left regarding the film, was how would the director follow up such a huge success.
The answer is with “Unbreakable” The film is not the creepy supernatural thriller that “The Sixth Sense” was, but it does contain supernatural elements, and like “Sixth” stars Bruce Willis as a regular guy caught in an abnormal situation.
Willis stars as Dunn( Samuel L. Jackson), a man who I am sure most of you who have seen the trailer for the film know is the only survivor of a train wreck. Dunn’s life is further complicated by a failing marriage due to his constantly keeping his wife (Robin Wright Penn) and his son at a distance.
Dunn is trying to come to grips with his survival, when a mysterious note asks him if he has ever been sick? Dunn is unable to remember a time when he was sick. Soon Dunn encounters the author of the note, a frail comic book art dealer named Elijah. It seems that Elijah is stricken with a frail bone disease, making him very prone to injury. He is drawn to Dunn as he believes that he is his opposite, a man who is impervious to injury. At first Dunn is very skeptical of Elijah, but soon he comes to see the destiny that is before him.
The film is very well acted and paced. The film unfolds at a very steady, pace, and does not overwhelm the viewer with flashy effects. Rather, the film relies on character interaction, as the viewers follow Dunn on his journey of discovery. My only complaint with the film was the ending. I thought the intriguing setup of the film was spoiled by a very uninspired climax, and a very disappointing resolution. That being said, the film is still entertaining, and despite the ending, should entertain audiences this Holiday season. While I do not see “Unbreakable” being the huge hit that “The Sixth Sense” was, it does show that Shyamalan is a talent to be reckoned with.
3.5 stars out of 5
