Though Halloween is over, that doesn’t mean that horror movies need to be put on the shelf until next year. In fact, it could even be argued that November is a perfect time to continue watching them. Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has no shortage of horror films that can work in the chilly, dreary days of November, such as 2004’s The Village. But an underrated 2015 found-footage horror film manages to cement itself in Shyamalan’s filmography as one of his greatest unexpected achievements.
The Visit was released in 2015, following a downward streak in Shyamalan’s career. During this time, found footage was experiencing a boom, so Shyamalan’s decision to capitalize on that public interest made sense, even if that wasn’t the kind of horror film one would expect from him. It grossed $98.5 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, and it received widespread praise from critics. However, it seemed to slowly fade from public consciousness — now, eleven years later, there is a chance to revisit The Visit.
The Visit is now streaming for free on YouTube
The Visit stars Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould as siblings Becca and Tyler. When their recently-divorced mother Loretta (Kathryn Hahn) goes on a five-day cruise, she leaves the kids in the care of her estranged grandparents, whom she hasn’t spoken to in fifteen years because they disapproved of her marriage to her high school teacher. Becca and Tyler decide to use the opportunity to make a documentary of the visit with a handheld camcorder.
Nana (Deanna Dunagan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie) meet Becca and Tyler at the train station. Initially, it seems as if everything is fine. They even wonder why their mom disliked them so much. Once they get to the house, though, they are told to never leave their room after 9:30 P.M. and to never go into the basement. This immediately sets the children on edge and creates the simmering tension that makes up the film.
Quickly, Nana and Pop Pop go from pleasant to unsettling. Each time Becca and Tyler witness something — especially at night — it carries a foreboding, sickening sense of anticipation. Pop Pop attacks a man that he thinks is following them, and Nana chases the children during a game of hide-and-seek. Tyler finds soiled diapers in the shed, and Becca sees Nana vomiting violently in the downstairs hallway. When challenged, the grandparents are each dismissive of the behavior of the other. As things begin to escalate, Becca and Tyler are on their own as they try to figure out what to do with two people they barely even know.
The film drew praise not just for its scary moments, but for the moments where it lets itself have a laugh or two. The terror it draws from lies within the everyday, which is a perfect setting for a director like Shyamalan, whose twists have become an integral part of his filmmaking signature. A single-house setting with limited boundaries adds claustrophobia and helps The Visit stand out from its peers.
With The Visit streaming for free on YouTube, it’s the perfect time to give this film a chance and see for yourself what, exactly, is going on with Nana and Pop Pop.