By CHRIS PUNTO & NATALIE SACKET
Columnists
All right, boys and girls. The horror movie season is upon us, and we are kicking off with “The Visit.”
Chris: 4 out of 5 stars
Finally! A movie that I really enjoyed! I can’t tell you how bad I’ve wanted to review this movie! And not just to make Natalie pee herself, but because this movie looked great.
Let’s start with the directing of this film. It was an M. Night movie, which means that it could be really good, as evidence from films like “The Sixth Sense” or “The Village,” or it could have been as bad as his take on “The Last Airbender.” Luckily for us, everything was beautifully shot and directed.
The acting in this film was nothing great, which means it was something amazing as far as horror films go. Usually actors in horror films are just getting their careers started, and usually you can tell. But this movie did a good job of convincing me there really is something to fear.
As far as the content of the movie, it really did scare me. And it wasn’t because of cheap jump scares. It was that something like this really could happen. It’s probably unlikely, but still possible. And aren’t those the scariest movies out there?
Bottom line: I really enjoyed this movie. The only issue with it is that it’s a typical M. Night movie in the sense that you can really only watch it once because the suspense and twists in the film can only be lived once. But it’s still a great experience. So grab your friend that you can squeeze when you get scared and head to this film!
Natalie: 3.5 out of 5 stars
We went over the river and through the woods (errr, across campus and downtown to Rialto) to visit grandma’s house this week with “The Visit.” Unfortunately, instead of being greeted by warm hugs and a dish of cookies, I was given multiple mini heart attacks and a dish of doubts as to how sweet my grandparents really are. (Sorry, Grandma.)
This movie is creepy, yet comedic, with a wonderful balance between humor and horror. It’s definitely not what I was expecting. I’m usually a chicken in horror movies, and I must admit I watched parts of this film solely between the cracks in my fingers. Yet despite the spooks and the creepiness, there is great comedic relief in this film.
- Night Shyamalan created three separate versions of “The Visit”: a strictly comedic version, a strictly horror version and then the mix of the two that he used on screen. This film was a comeback for Shyamalan, considering his past few films have not appealed to audiences and critics. Despite its lower budget, this film proves Shayamalan is not done creating some of our most beloved horror/thriller films quite yet.
There’s a great build of suspense as well as great surprises throughout “The Visit.” This film is peppered with a variety of entertainment: rap battles, great laughs, spectacular spooks and bizarre moments. Shyamalan effortlessly found a way to get under the audience’s skins while making you laugh at the same time.
I was thoroughly impressed with the acting as well, particularly because the majority of the film fell on the shoulders of Ed Oxenbould (14 years old) and Olivia DeJonge (17 years old.) I believe there’s a lot to expect from these young talents.
Bottom Line: Whether you want a good laugh or a couple scares, “The Visit” is the perfect film for you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go call my grandma.