The Visit (Review)

visitA mum of two (Kathryn Hahn) has not seen her parents in 15 years since a falling out

Coincidentally this is the same period of time since director M. Night Shyamalan has been relevant.

One of those streaks is broken by the end of this film.

Partially at the insistence of the grandparents – and partially to get a few kid-free days in order to take a Club Ames style holiday – precocious and erudite siblings; aspiring filmmaker Becca (Olivia DeJonge) and germophobe (and *ugh* aspiring rapper) Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) are dropped off at the train station to embark upon a journey with their grandparents town. Neither have ever seen the grandparents, so it is a great relief when both Nana (Deanna Dunagan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie) greet them with open arms.

As Becca and Tyler discuss the documentary that they plan to make to commemorate their stay, (using words like ‘predilections’ and ‘organically’) they bask in the silence and space of the semi rural property outside a small town. There are but two rules imposed by the kindly seniors, head to bed by 9.30, and do go into the basement.

This would seem a bit more ominous if either kid was old enough to have seen a horror film, but the two kids are having too much fun to worry.

It is Tyler that first notices that Nana and Pop Pop are a little odd. They write it off initially as them being to eager to please and not being used to having kids around, but as the actions grow stranger and the justifications always a variation of ‘well, we’re old’, the concern levels increase, though they try not to ruin Skype sessions with mum unduly.

……………..

As a viewer it is a welcome change for an Shyamalan film to not try to bruise us with the Big Twist. Instead The Visit builds the tension and confusion over time; why does he do that? How does she do that? What is THAT noise? Waiting for the other grandparent’s slipper to drop is tense and frankly weird. Somehow the scenes of them not acting well beyond ‘normal’ grandparent zaniness are even worse than where they go wacky.

Unfortunately the ending doesn’t cap things off, but for a long while The Visit is worthwhile and nerve wracking beyond anything Shyamalan has made since Unbreakable.

This would be seen as a film of promise from a young director, instead we will view it as a mild return to form from someone who could have ruled the world at one stage.

Final Rating – 7 / 10. An exercise in unease, like most visits to the grandparents for teens.

About OGR

While I try to throw a joke or two into proceedings when I can all of the opinions presented in my reviews are genuine. I don't expect that all will agree with my thoughts at all times nor would it be any fun if you did, so don't be shy in telling me where you think I went wrong... and hopefully if you think I got it right for once. Don't be shy, half the fun is in the conversation after the movie.
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