The Visit

Why do we go to the movies? More particularly, why do we go to horror movies? Fear is as undesirable an emotion as, say, grief, or loathing. The answer is simple. Movies are evocative of emotions. We know this. They stir in us a range of emotions in an environment where it’s OK to close your eyes, and where you know that it will be over in a finite amount of time. There is the piece that it’s not real as well. Scary movies just do it for some people, and others can’t seem to stand them.

I’ve often said the hardest films to do well are sci-fi and horror, and M. Night Shyamalan has resurrected from a dismal sci-fi attempt (“After Earth”) to brazenly take on what he does best; horror. It’s hard to believe that it’s been sixteen years since the sensational “The Sixth Sense” which was an absolute horror juggernaut in both critical and consumer success. Well, after a string of less impressive fair (to be fair, “Signs” and “The Village” were fun), he’s back with a whole new original horror film, written and directed with his trademark quirk and a few upgrades.

Siblings Becca and Tyler are sent by their single mother to rural Pennsylvania (Shyamalan’s stomping grounds for all his films) to spend a week with her estranged parents. Things go fine until the geriatric couple begin exhibiting odd behavior. The upgrade on Shyamalan’s technique is that the film is done in the trendy found footage style, with Becca an aspiring documentary filmmaker, so the events are recorded through her trusty camcorder. Many of the more pivotal moments are shown in the trailers (unfortunately).

Keeping with tradition, Shyamalan hides a twist until just before the end, and maybe the massive anticipation made it a bit disappointing, but his imprint reverberates through the aftermath. Shyamalan is a cerebral thriller tactician through and through. I’m coining a term here; post-dated fear. What that means is that although the events in the film aren’t particularly remarkable, he forces you to reflect on what could have happened with hindsight, and if you knew then what you know now, the film is absolutely frightening.

This is what sets “The Visit” apart from every M. Night film except for “The Sixth Sense”. His others held twists; some clever (“Signs”, “The Village”), some a bit ridiculous (“Unbreakable”, “Lady in the Water”), but on the drive home, I literally shuddered.

Maybe I’m overthinking the whole thing, but I suppose that’s my job. If a particular scene or jump moment sticks with you, then that makes the writer or director happy. Job well done. But it’s rare that the whole premise of a film sticks with you and that’s what Shyamalan accomplished. It’s his rare talent, which I sincerely hope he continues to stick to his wheelhouse.

The casting was great. The elderly couple, Nana (Deanna Dugan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie) deliver chilling performances in what must have taken an excruciating number of takes, and the kids, Becca (Olivia DeJong) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) are convincing as siblings with their witty banter and chemistry. A bit too precocious perhaps, but acceptable.

With a paltry five million dollar budget, this is a surefire box office smash. It’s a fun time if you like to see scary movies, but it won’t win any Oscars. Pay attention, and enjoy the fear factor after the film ends. 7/10.