The Happening (2008)

The Happening (2008) is a science fiction thriller film written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. In New York City’s Central Park, a series of suicides occur among the people. The cause is believed to be a bio-terrorist attack using an airborne neurotoxin, which quickly spreads throughout the Northeastern United States. High school science teacher Elliot Moore and his wife Alma are joined by Elliot’s mathematician colleague Julian and his daughter Jess on a train out of Philadelphia. As they journey, they discover that Boston and Philadelphia have also been affected. Their communication is cut off and the train eventually stops in a small town. Julian leaves to find his wife who has fled from Boston to Princeton, leaving Jess in the care of the Moores.

Upon Julian’s arrival, Princeton is already affected, resulting in the car he is in crashing into a tree. Elliot, Alma, and Jess receive a ride from a nurseryman and his wife who propose the idea that plant life has created a defensive mechanism against humans – an airborne toxin that triggers neurotransmitters, leading to suicidal behaviors. As more survivors join them from different directions, the group decides to avoid populated areas and roads. Once a majority of the group becomes affected by the toxin, Elliot confirms the theory and decides to split their group into smaller clusters. The trio ends up with two teenage boys, Josh and Jared, who unfortunately get shot by armed residents of a barricaded house.