High concept. Big stakes. Paltry payoff. Yes, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest is disappointing any way you slice it. And it’s a shame, really, given there is a plethora of intriguing elements to the horror-laced plot. The problem is that it’s all played too silly to be taken seriously. There’s also an unfortunate high level of awkward dialogue and stilted performances. It’s not quite the cringeyness found in Shyamalan’s The Happening, but it’s nowhere near the thrilling brilliance of Signs or The Sixth Sense. The movie’s biggest upside is surely the mystery at hand, as the whole “rapidly aging” premise remains a captivating one throughout. This in spite of the fact that nothing is given any real time to “breath,” making the odd incidents feel rather inconsequential as they happen. Trust me, crazy things happen and it’s just like, “oh well, what’s next?” Now, do we find out just what in the heck is happening to these poor people and why? Yes. Is it satisfactory? Well, it’s thought-provoking, but little else. Perhaps it’s because we are forcibly spoon-fed every plot point every step of the way like a bunch of toddlers, but all that is smart about this movie is dumbed-down to the max. Luckily, there is still some fun to be had – as long as you set your expectations jussst right. Alas, mine were unfortunately a little too high I suppose. If there is one thing you can say about our director at this point, it’s that he is consistently inconsistent!