A Visit You Won't Forget

M. Night Shyamalan rewards us with an incredible comedy/horror that keeps our attention throughout its rejuvenating blend of humor and mysterious scares. When teenagers Becca and Tyler visit their grandparents for the first time, they are unsure if their questionable behaviors[**spoilers:grandfather claims to be cleaning his gun when Becca finds him with a rifle in his mouth; grandmother chases them under the house] are simply a result of their old age, as both Becca and the kids' mom insists, or if they are a cause of something more sinister.

What's particularly intriguing about this story are the dynamics of the characters. The mom is cheerful, protective, and fiercely adoring of her children. Though she and her parents

broke ties years before, she desires a better relationship for her kids and their grandparents. The actors bring life to their roles in ways usually unseen in Hollwood. Uknown actor Olivia DeJonge (Becca) plays a precocious fifteen year old whose charm stems from her intelligence and her goal of creating a cherished documentary of their visit for her mom, a way of bringing closure to the past (the details remain unknown to the kids and us until much later). Another lesser known actor Ed Oxenbould (Tyler) works brilliantly as a contrast to his sister; he's full of wit and an amazing talent for rapping. Brother and sister balance each other well: when Tyler expresses concern that something is very wrong with their grandparents, Becca remains composed and convinces him that all is well--"they are just old". When Becca recalls her dad, there's a certain sadness but Tyler expresses a positive overcomer attitude.

As the film progresses, so do the odd behaviors of both grandparents, yet we and the two siblings don't understand why. More disconcerting is the mom's insistence (through Skype) that "they are just old". When the kids express fear about being chased under the house by their grandmother, the mom recalls fondly her own experience playing hide-n-seek in the same spot with their grandmother. So, we're baffled. How can this be? There's something incredibly strange about them, and yet the mystery continues. Until a revelation. All I will say is that I was taken by surprise when we are given the answer, and you will be too.

Watch The Visit. You'll scream in fear, scratch your head in wonder, and laugh with delight.

#MNightShyamalan #TheVisit #suspense #scary #comedy #OliviaDejonge #EdOxenbould #grandparents #KristaWagner