The Setup: Mark Wahlberg plays high school science teacher Elliot, who races to save his wife (Zooey Deschanel) and daughter from a mysterious, airborne toxic event sweeping through the northeast that causes whoever inhales to immediately kill themselves in the fastest way possible (resulting in a lot of violent, graphic deaths).
The Twist: The plants decided to band together to wipe out all of the humans because of pollution (yes, PLANTS) by releasing kill-yourself gas into the wind so people can breathe it in. And you thought carbon monoxide was scary . . .
The Verdict: Mass suicides? Very scary. The wind killing people? Not scary. Wahlberg pleading with a tree not to kill him? Not scary. A crazy old woman ranting on her porch about lemonade? Not scary. The Happening quickly devolves into pure camp.
