Psychology 101
The seemingly picture perfect early 19th century western community comes into turmoil when the villagers are falling ill, but cannot go beyond their borders for they have a truce with frightening creatures that everyone from the village should stay inside and the creatures would stay outside their community. Towards the end, the blind character Ivy went outside the borders to get medicine for her betrothed, and the twist was revealed that the village was in fact amidst the modern day society, but was hidden from the public in the guise of a wildlife park. It is under this light where I will examine the Social Psychology issues shown in the film.
The blind conformity of the villagers not to go beyond the borders was greatly influenced by the external attributions carefully crafted by the elders of the village. They made the people believe that there are creatures outside the village that will do them harm once they dare cross the border. Meanwhile, group polarization was shown when Lucius Hunt expresses his desire to go outside to get medicine, for their sick folks, from the neighboring towns. Even though he is aware of the possible dangers once someone go outside, it did not deter him from having an extreme thought that defies the thought of the majority.
The turning point happened when the elders, early in their life, have decided to put up a new society that is isolated from the harsh realities of the real modern world. Having their own share of grief from the contemporary life, it prompts them so escape from their old life and fabricate a story that would protect the new generation from the horrors of the world.
I liked it most when it was finally revealed that the village was not a 19th century society rather, a modern one. I do not like the part where Noah was confined inside the room and accidentally found the costume for the unknown creatures. Who would do such reckless thing when they know that he is mentally challenged?
Work Cited
The Village. Dir. M. Night S. Perf. Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, Joaquin Phoenix,. DVD. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2004.
