Rating of
3/4
Shyamalan's Latest is Worth a 'Visit'
Unknown - wrote on 09/12/15
'The Visit' most definitely subverted my expectations. From the trailers, this looked to be another typical 'found footage' style thriller. The movie doesn't rely on this overused gimmick to sell it's story. I bought into the premise because of the characters. The reasonings for this presentation were believable enough, given the circumstance. They worked in a way that fleshed out the characters and shed light on their family history through simple effective means. I found myself actually caring about these kids. Their torn family life is treated with a heavy heart. I was surprised, but also very appreciative of this aspect. However, the rest of the movie is a weird and wild ride. It has an uncouth way of dealing suspense that culminates in some bizarre situations. I found myself laughing at the sheer oddness of the many uneasy moments. They are done so intentionally. In fact, there are many hilarious jokes throughout. The humor works well in conjunction to the thrills. Some routine scares are present mostly likely to throw us off of the darker mystery afoot. I honestly enjoyed the simple revelation that takes place before the climax. It makes sense when looking back at the rest of the film and it adds tension to the finale. The audience I sat with were very interactive, making the experience fun. This time, Shyamalan's twist was the film itself. He has flipped audience expectation for his brand of thriller and delivered one of his most entertaining movies in years.
