[7.6/10] One of the best tacks a horror film can take is rooting its supernatural or outsized sense of terror in something real. That grain of truth at the core of a movie’s scares makes them more vivid and gripping than bare, spooky scenes or the usual collection of ghoulies.
It certainly works to the benefit of The Visit. The film tells the story of two young children, Becca and Tyler, visiting their estranged grandparents for the first time. “Pop Pop” and “Nana” behave strangely, rumbling and being ill in the middle of the night or sneaking out to a mysterious shed, in a way that unnerves their grandchildren.
The smartest choice the film makes is to walk the line between whether this is the sign of something sinister or wrong, or whether it’s simply a combination of dementia and unfamiliarity that’s disturbing the kids. It’s a horror movie, so it’s not hard to guess how things play out, but the film gains strength by playing with that ambiguity. Outside the confines of a Hollywood picture, kids can have trouble relating to their grandparents, understanding the physical and mental challenges their elders are going through. Using that natural anxiety, that natural misunderstanding, both serves as a means to muddy the waters of What’s Really Going On, and to elevate the frightening qualities of when Nana and Pop Pop are acting out.
If there’s a smarter choice, however, it’s in the casting of the two young leads who carry the film. Olivia DeJonge plays Becca, the older sibling who is a budding director, out to document this momentous and fraught family occasion, with a combination of precociousness and vulnerability. Ed Oxenbould plays Tyler, Becca’s colorful, freestyle-rapping little brother, who makes for an amusingly free-wheeling yin to Becca’s very deliberate yang.
Centering a movie around kids is hard, as the challenges of finding the core of a character and maintaining it from beginning to end can be difficult for young actors. But DeJonge and Oxenbould both give their characters a sense of realness in their childlike reactions to the world around them, but also deliver the emotional layers to that experience to make them compelling figures and not just props in this drama.
Much of that comes from the script penned by the famed/notorious M. Night Shyamalan, who also directs the film. He too captures the inquisitive, precious spirit of childhood, while making Becca and Tyler easy characters to become endeared to and fear for. The film also features one of Shyamalan’s tightest scripts. As much as Shyamalan takes time out to be a little loose and show the kids being kids, helping to establish character and tone, he also dots every “i” and crosses every “t” in terms of setting up the mystery and providing plausible hints, convincing red herrings, and a solid build to the truth about what’s happening with their grandparents.
If anything, the film’s narrative is a little too neat. Emotional beats or noted characteristics come back into play at just the right moment, to the point that the viewer can see the strings of why some detail or story was told in the prelude. The plot never feels too convenient, but at times it moves like it’s on rails.
The same cannot be said, however, for the cinematography. Shyamalan employs the “found footage” conceit here, and it gives him a chance to use perspective and the verisimilitude of that choice to accentuate his scares. More than anything, it allows us to better know Becca and Tyler. If we’re not literally seeing their perspective, hearing their voice and seeing their point-of-view from behind the camera, then we see them in confessionals, opening up in the piercing way only a camera lens can admit.
Shyamalan uses that choice -- having the kids “filming” almost all of the movie, for both terror and fun. The hand-held conceit turns a simple game of hide and seek, or a chance encounter with a bystander on a visit to an old high school, into terrifying episodes, filled with crawling figures or troubling confrontations. But it also gives Tyler the chance to goof off in front of the camera in the way a ten year old would, or for Becca to amusingly wax rhapsodic over not wanting to be too intentional in her zooms and cuts, with Shyamalan clearly having a good time poking fun at his profession through the eyes of the child.
The only problem, then, is that once Shyamalan has laid down that initial layer of humor and creepiness, the inevitable reveal leads to a bit of the air coming out of the picture rather than the terror being heightened. Once the scales fall and the ambiguity is no longer there to goose the scares, the film becomes more stock in its horror, and the emotional climaxes coincide with the horror climaxes a little too easily.
Still, The Visit isn’t content to merely offer a snootful of well-crafted horror and an endearing, if frightening kid adventure. There’s a heavily-underlined but potent theme about acceptance and processing anger for those who’ve hurt us, particularly family members. The film isn’t shy in the way it connects the feelings of Becca and Tyler’s mom (Kathryn Hahn, who makes a strong impression in just a little bit of screentime) toward the parents she hasn’t spoken to in a decade and a half, with Becca and Tyler’s own feelings about their absentee dad. As with the scary side of the movie, The Visit pays both of these internal challenges a little too easily, but still convincingly.
It’s hard not to draw comparisons with Shyamalan’s breakthrough film, The Sixth Sense, give both movies’ use of talented child actors and themes of making peace with difficult parts of our lives, but The Visit stands on its own. It’s a tidier film, more self-contained, more human and unvarnished, with its single-location focus and more conventional scares. And it finds the sweet spot between the real things that unnerve us, and the grander horrors of the screen, to make an effective vignette about two kids finding their way through one uncertain situation and resolving another.
I read the Book this story based on and thought "Why isn't there a movie of that yet?" and 1 or 2 years later Nerve came up. I was instantly hyped and watched it in the cinema. I have to say I really get goosebumps at some parts of the movie. They changed the challenges and some backgroujd Informations but of course the story had the same orientation. As I said I really liked the movie. But the ending in the book was way better in my opinion. In the movie it kinda is pretty boring and disappointed, at least a little bit. Still recommend it, but you should read the book before ;)
Well, I compleatly enjoyed the movie. I like the music in the movie, it fits in perfectly. The screenplay was nice and acting was good, but the ending for me felt rushed. It feels like they could have made it better, but I still liked it! But I don't know how the book is, so can't say how different the book and the movie is. Maybe I should read the book!
And what is it with movies and trailers lately. In the trailer when Vee goes to the cop car, the police officer know her name and seems to be "part of the game". But it was not like that in the movie. And when i first saw the trailer, that part made the movie seem "better?". But well, I guess the trailers now days lie about the movies ;) cough cough suicide squad
The three Doctors interacted so wonderfully--especially Tennant and Smith......and then the Gallifrey revelation...WOW!!!!!!
I wanted to love this so much, but it just felt... Empty. The characters didn't connect at all and the Fantastic Beasts themselves felt like an afterthought to the franchise they're actually trying to build.
Overall a watchable movie with some charming moments but damaged by a muddy story and atrocious pacing. I expected more from the HP universe.
An hour and forty minutes of Scarlett Johansson getting naked, seducing guys and killing them in some weird vortex pool inside a house. If you like her, watch it! Scarlett and the awesome film photography are good reasons to do so.
You have to be in the mood to be challenged and completely open to see it as a look of the world through her alien eyes.
It's bizarre, dark, intriguing and is going to make you think "WTF is going on here?!". But it's a boring film overall in which nothing really happens - be aware of that.
I'm still sobbing as I write this. The film is very good but it is quite traumatic. It is a subtle meditation on grief (as symbolised by the monster) and will ring true to a lot of peoples experiences. Billed as a family film, though I fear young ones will be too scared by the monster and too upset by the subject matter. Brilliant performance from the young lead and a great script that isn't as heavy handed as it could have been.
Better than the first one. Shows more aspects of the purge 'philosophy' together with a danger of its miss-usage.
the film is very good...
the presence of the greys is now a fact of life, like death and taxes.
This is rather good but I'm a sucker for alien movies especially when there's a good "they're already here and messing with us" conspiracy behind it.
Liked the first movie, but this one felt.... Milked. They were almost always running from something, which got quite repetitive. While 'run' is in the series name, it still got old very quickly.
The main character, Thomas, seemed to be the only one who was being developed as a character. Everyone else was bland.
Very enjoyable movie. Watched this with friends and we were pleasantly surprised on how good the movie was. Definitely worth watching for any one looking for a good Horror/Comedy.
The Book of Eli is collection of all the things I love, so I might be a little bit biased. Please view the following words with that in mind.
The Book of Eli takes place in amazing post-apocalyptic world, that very much resembles a world of 'Fallout' and 'Wasteland' games. Main hero owns the very last copy of Bible in the world. Book that is not only amazing message, but also the strongest power tool in the world.
Breathtaking shots, amazing and believable atmosphere of the post-apocalyptic world, together with perfect choreography made Book of Eli a movie I have to recommend to absolutely everyone, right after The Matrix.
The first time I watched the movie, I didn't noticed that he is blind. But when you rewatch it, you can see all the little hints for it. Really cool. But every Denzel movie is cool ^_^
One of the most frustratingly bad horror movies I've ever seen. The characters were all idiots. They deserved it.
I've liked it much more than expected from ratings! Funnier than most Adam's stuff, and Tyrion and Ned were great.
I was expecting this movie to be cute and funny and feel-good but it was a lot more than that and I am so happy! It was very touching and I spent a lot of it quietly weeping hahaha and it has such a good message <3 I wouldn't change any bit of it...except for her staying with the guy at the end - what was up with that?! But all in all it was sooo good and I highly recommend it.
The film is just perfect! Never a dull moment. But there is a clear division into two main themes. In the first part, we have the comedy we expect for and we laugh tons. In the second part, it becomes more sober and dramatic, but that's what make the film so special.
Best Snyder movie so far. Sadly it is deeply misunderstood. Movie is way more deeper and complex than it looks like on first glance.
People don't realize Sweet Pea is the protagonist, Babydoll is a figment of Sweet Pea’s imagination. Babydoll does not exist. Babydoll's story is Sweet Pea’s story. Sweet Pea was sexually abused, killed her sister and is in psychiatric hospital in therapy. Babydoll is Sweet Pea's avatar. Way of dealing with grief, with guilt, and way to manage her current situation and overcome it. Babydoll is also Sweet Pea's guardian angel.
Sweet Pea is the only fully rounded character, other girls represent aspects of her psyche. Babydoll represents strength and courage, Amber loyalty, Blondie fear, and Rocket represents guilt. In the third level reality her psyche fights for the things to get her free from her current state. Second guardian angel (the Wise Man) guides her through. To fully recover she needs to get over her guilt (Rocket dies as a symbol), also other girls represent things which she needs to leave behind to fully recover .
Babydoll is one of those things. She is the fifth thing (“The fifth is a mystery. It is the reason. It is the goal. It will be a deep sacrifice and a perfect victory.”). Lobotomy of Babydoll represents Sweet Pea’s mind of taking control. Sweet Pea needs to sacrifice Babydoll to be “cured”. Escape at the end is a symbol of that process of being cured. That’s why the driver is the Wise Man, he guides her further.
Sucker Punch is Sweet Pea’s journey from “madness” to “sanity”. Movie is philosophical / psychological investigation wrapped in a special effects action-fantasy. As the movie changes realities (mostly in the third reality), Snyder uses more fetishized image of the girls. He uses clichés and cluttered iconography (nazi zombies, sexy schoolgirls). It is a way to detached and disconnected characters from second reality. Second reality, the brothel, is the “main” reality. In which everything happens.
He states "There is one question" and "only one answer is required." the question is "any questions " meaning (do you have) any questions. Yes or no is irrelevant. There can be any amount of answers but only one is REQUIRED. There is no right answer, no wrong answer. The paper was purely a clue, (and a distraction.) The entire movie is about attention to detail!
this film moved me a lot. It has the right dosage of humor, art and sentiment. The cast is perfect. Best movie of 2015 so far
although the story is kinda dumb, there are a lot of laughs... then there's leighton and the australian guy <3
the funniest movie ever lol
One of the best comedy movies I've seen in a long time. Jason Statham was brilliant and Melissa was so good, she was the queen of the movie. Great cast, really.
So funny, I want to see it again already.
Don't want to sugar coat it: Disappointing. Horrible. Not lots of funny part.
Thanks to Zach entertaining.
I am sorry for the Trilogy.
Part one is gut-shaking Awsome
Blake Lively's performance was amazing from start to finish, the story and concept were enough to get me to watch it (regardless of the fact i love me some Blake). This movie will be a part of my collection as soon as its released on iTunes, 9/10.
Why do film studios have to spell stuff out for us , we are not idiots. The fact that we knew Adaline never aged from the start was a bad move. The studio should have kept us guessing...make the audience work. Why was Adaline on the Run?, Why did she have to keep changing identities?. The big reveal should have been when Adaline met Ellis' father. A great film but could have been so much better. As soon as this movie hits blu ray. I am going to make my own edit.
