M. Night Shyamalan's THE VILLAGE finds the renowned writer-director crafting a suspenseful story of a small community whose inhabitants are plagued by fear of the unknown forest that surrounds them. For years, they have kept a truce with mysterious creatures in the woods by vowing never to breach a clearly defined border. However, when a young man (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes determined to explore the nearby towns, his actions are met with menacing consequences.

Shyamalan continues his remarkable streak of entrancing and entertaining thrillers (THE SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE, SIGNS) with THE VILLAGE. A meticulous filmmaker, Shyamalan displays his penchant for setting up a fascinating atmosphere in every aspect of the movie, from its distinctive color scheme to its intentionally genteel dialogue to its outstanding cinematography, courtesy of Roger Deakins. Renowned cast members Phoenix, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Adrien Brody are excellent, but the true standout is Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of director Ron Howard), who embodies the heart of the film with her vulnerable but fiercely vital performance. Like Shyamalan's other movies, THE VILLAGE has a distinct twist that offers shocking revelations, but this film's overwhelming sense of menace is what is sure to resonate with viewers long after it's over.

THEATRICAL RELEASE: JULY 30, 2004

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
French - (unspecified)
Additional Release Material:
Additional Footage - 1. BRYCE'S DIARY
2. M. NIGHT'S HOME MOVIE
Making Of - 1. DECONSTRUCTING THE VILLAGE
Text/Photo Galleries:
Production Photo Gallery

Distributor Notes: The Village

M. Night Shyamalan (SIGNS, UNBREAKABLE, THE SIXTH SENSE), the director who brought you the world's greatest thrillers on DVD, now creates his most thought-provoking triumph yet ... breaking international records and dazzling audiences around the globe! THE VILLAGE is a smart, edge-of-your-seat chiller crawling with terrifying surprises and frightening twists and turns. An isolated, tight-knit community lives in mortal fear of an oppressive evil inhabiting the forbidden forest just beyond their tiny village. So frightening that no one ventures into the woods ... until one villager dares to face the unknown. With unforgettable performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Adrien Brody, and newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, this powerful motion picture is one of Hollywood's best psychological thrillers and ranks with the best of Hitchcock!

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Joaquin Phoenix: American actor, WALK THE LINE
Bryce Dallas Howard: American actor, THE VILLAGE/MANDERLAY
William Hurt: American Actor, THE BIG CHILL (1983)
Sigourney Weaver: American actress, ALIEN (1979), GORILLAS IN THE MIST
Adrien Brody: American Actor, THE PIANIST (2002)
Brendan Gleeson: Actor/"Braveheart"
Michael Pitt: Actor, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2001)
Cherry Jones: Actress of Stage and Screen

M. Night Shyamalan: Indian-Born screenwriter, director, THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)

Scott Rudin: Producer/Executive
Sam Mercer: Producer/"Congo"

M. Night Shyamalan: Indian-Born screenwriter, director, THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)

James Newton Howard: Composer, KING KONG (2005)

"As a director, SHYAMALAN gets fine work from Phoenix, whose ability to convey emotion with limited language serves the film effectively."
"[I]ts power, unrelated to digital monsters, comes from the tension building inside the characters. Shyamalan benefits from a stellar cast..."
"Shyamalan is essentially a superior purveyor of Tales of the Unexpected. Great fun."
"Cinematographer Roger Deakins and costume designer Ann Roth both utilise a palette of rich earth tones that maintains period authenticity and imbues the thematically important splashes of bright primary colour with a greater kick..."