The film "Visit" reviews of eminent filmmakers dubbed the return of the famous director M. Night Shyamalan, the maestro of the thriller genre, to low-budget cinema. One of the leading critics of The Forbes magazine Scott Mendelssohn, learning about the work on the film, immediately designated it as the most anticipated film of 2015.
Triumphant return
Produced by the sought-after Jason Bloom, producer of all parts of The Paranormal, the horror film with elements of the thriller turned out to be like a terrible parable, reminiscent of the Hansel and Gretel brothers of Grimm at some points. But do not make hasty conclusions. Reviews of the film “Visit” read: the creator of “The Sixth Sense” returned to form after several failed projects, he “went out of hibernation”. The horror rating is quite high - IMDb: 6.20, and it can be safely recommended for viewing by a wide audience.
Genre Policy
Reviews of the film “Visit” (2015) contain information that initially Shyamalan, speaking in the film and in the guise of a screenwriter, created three completely different versions of the tape. The first he positioned as a comedy, the second - a classic horror, and the third, according to the author, was "something in between." Shyamalan frolic while working on the project, having fun. Nevertheless, professional reviewers, analyzing the “Visit” (2015 film), left mostly positive reviews. According to them, the director returned to the very beginning of his career. Prior to The Sixth Sense, the director worked in the opposite genres of the thriller. His first film projects are the mystical melodrama Furious Prayer, the self-ironic comedy Awakening, and the script for Stuart Little. So in “Visit”, conspiring with Jason Bloom, M. Night Shyamalan cheated, creating not a horror movie or even a thriller. The film “The Visit” in form conforms to the stated genre policy, it has plenty of suspense, exciting intrigue and an amazing twist, but it’s rather a horror story for the whole family.
Not without morality
The film “Visit” received mixed reviews. Some disappointed viewers were perplexed why the creators, after a successful “boo-moment”, necessarily inserted an impressive share of humor. And the final of the picture was especially criticized by fans of the genre. "How can the climax of the horror be saturated with irony and black humor?" they were perplexed. The reviewers, not ashamed of the expressions, reproached the director for not intending to make a chilling horror movie, deliberately missing out on the opportunity to frighten those who looked to their knees with trembling.
Benevolent film critics noted the successful presence in the picture of family values, sentiment and morality. Among the advantages of the film, filmmakers, leaving reviews on the horror film “Visit”, noted the filming of the muco-commentaries, which immersed people watching the action in real time. In their opinion, the cinema only benefited from this, since the plot does not sparkle with special innovation, although it is not without its exciting twists.
Archetypal fairy tale plot
The main characters of the picture, 15-year-old Becky (Olivia Dejonge) and 13-year-old Tyler (Ed Oxenbold), go to their grandfather and grandmother for a week. Relatives have never seen each other in their life, since their mother immediately after school, after a quarrel, left her father’s house and did not maintain relations with her parents. Becky, dreaming of becoming a director, goes on a trip and takes pictures of everything.
The elderly couple greet their grandchildren very cordially, only strongly recommending that they go to bed no later than half past nine. On the first night after arrival, the girl, going down to the kitchen after the designated time, stumbles upon a granny (Dianna Danagan), who behaves at least in a strange way. In the morning, Grandfather John (Peter Macrobby) admits to his grandchildren that Grandmother Doris suffers from a harmless nervous disorder for others - twilight confusion, a type of sleepwalking. However, the eccentricities of the elderly couple do not end there, and the children decide to install a hidden camera to record what is happening. Their attempt to get to the truth every day is becoming more dangerous.
Acting Ensemble
Actor casting all film critics who have left reviews of the film The Visit are unanimously praised. According to them, the performers were chosen so organically that while watching the film there is no thought that they play roles according to the script. It seems that they just live their own life, not knowing about the shooting. Not surprisingly, the creators were able to attract to the work on the picture of the real stars of the film industry. Actress Dianna Danagan is known to the viewer for the films Detective Rush and House of Cards, Peter MacRobby is remembered for watching Soprano Clan and Brokeback Mountain tapes, Celia Keenan-Bolger shone in the films Law and Order and Sister Jackie , in the filmography of Samuel Stricklen, the projects “The Right Wife”, “Law and Order” stand out, Patrick Darro turned into the heroes of the films “Datura” and “Underground Empire”, Jorge Cordoba gained experience in “Dear Doctor” and “In the Field of View”, Steve Annan demonstrated his acting talent in New York and American adventure. " In 2015, all of the listed actors added the movie “Visit” to their track record. Reviews of their game is positive.
Leading actors
Olivia DeJong and Ed Oksenbuld, despite a fairly young age, are not newcomers to the big movie.
Eighteen-year-old Olivia has 6 paintings on her account, among which stand out “Sisterhood of the Night”, which was released one year before the “Visit” and “Witness”. After collaborating with Shyamalan, the actress starred in "Frightening Campaign" and in "Safe Area".
Fifteen-year-old Ed Oksenbuld before the “Visit” starred in films of the comedy and drama genres: “Amber Amulet”, “Paper Airplanes”, “Good for the First Time”. His filmography currently stands at 13 films, including the film “Visit”.
Reviews of their level of performing skills, demonstrated in horror, received high. According to experts, young talents convincingly reincarnated as brothers and sisters, everywhere showing concern for each other, not without mutual teasing. Following them into plot twists and turns is fun and easy, and sometimes creepy. For children-heroes, the viewer is always especially worried.
Game with a nuance
The characters of the first plan should be attributed to Paul, the mother of her sister and brother, whose role was played by actress Katherine Khan. The famous comedian faced a difficult task. She was to transform into a complex character, convey the stupid childishness of her heroine, vulnerability, the imprint of the drama of her teenage years, her current care and sincere motherly love for children. According to the opinions of the audience, the result of the efforts of Khan looks great. The actress is known to a wide audience on television and movies: “The Investigation of Jordan”, “Thirst for Wanderings”, “Step Brothers”, “We are the Millers”.
Rap style
“Visit” is the first horror film in the career of M. Night Shyamalan, the musical accompaniment of which was not created by the outstanding and popular composer James Newton Howard in the film industry. The director, in view of the modest budget of the tape and the features of the construction of the narrative (the genre of "found film") decided to do without music at all. The only exceptions are the final credits that go under the background performance of Tyler's rap composition, in which he describes what happened to him and his sister.
Verdict
According to the majority of cinema authors who are media contributors, “Visit” is a truly spectacular, albeit in a good, and strange film. Although he does not repeat the atmosphere and elegance of the first works of the director, he still testifies to his return to duty. One can sincerely rejoice for him and enthusiastically expect new unsurpassed masterpieces. Moreover, the director used part of his personal savings to produce the film “Visit”. M. Knight Shyamalan explained this generosity with the desire to regain full control over the creative process.