M. Night Shyamalama-ding-dong

Confession: I’m a fan of M. Night Shyamalan. Dude gets cast plenty of shade for his cinematic misfires, which are plenty. But when he gets it right, he gets it right. And even when he doesn’t get it all the way right, I still sit there and think “Okay, yeah, I see what you were trying to do there…” and I recognize the creative intent and I get how the wheels were turning in his brain even if it didn’t all quite come together. I think his biggest problem, for sure, is that he is stuck in the Watch This Twist Ending! cycle from which he can not escape. It’s expected now. We are conditioned like Pavlov’s dogs.

M. Night Shyamalan ——> sit, panting, patiently waiting for the twist!! Give us a treat, M. Night!

He’s stuck. He’s got two choices: give ’em what they are expecting and hope you can make it original enough that, while they know it’s coming, they don’t know which direction it’s coming from; or leave off the signature twist and have everyone leaving the theater going what the hell was that?? I thought this was Shyamalan! 

It’s fairly hopeless either way, and I feel for the guy.

But YOU GUYS… have you seen this? This preview fills me with so much hope. Using the television series platform, there is no immediate, foreseeable ending in sight, and therefor no one can speculate/complain about a twist! 

The series is based off the books by Blake Crouch, so M. Night isn’t having to start from scratch. He’s got a solid concept from which to work. And without having to address, from the beginning, an ending, he can just focus on concept, writing, and story… while the audience can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I am filled with hope, guys. I pray he doesn’t let me down.

http://youtu.be/QmFPf7I0Jlc

What do you think? Are you willing to try it out? Have you been burned too much before to give it a go?