Get access to trailers, media and news on 20th Century Fox movies currently in theaters now and upcoming future releases. Read the The Happening movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on Movies.com. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. With Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Ashlyn Sanchez. A science teacher, his wife, and a young girl struggle to survive. Critics Consensus: The Happening begins with promise, but unfortunately descends into an incoherent and unconvincing trifle. The Happening is the story of a couple, teacher Elliott More (played by Mark Wahlberg) and his wife Alma (played by Zooey Deschanel), who wake up one day to find that. The Happening is a 2008 American supernatural thriller film written, co-produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan that follows a man, his wife, his best friend.