By Julianne Obregon
Director and producer M. Night Shyamalan once again brings an unexpected twist in his newest film “The Visit.”
Shyamalan, known for “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs,” created a story about two young children, named Becca and Tyler, going to meet their grandparents for the first time.
When Becca, played by Olivia DeJonge, and Tyler, played by Ed Oxenbould, find out that their grandparents want to meet them, they use the opportunity to help their mother, played by Kathryn Hahn, reconnect with her parents.
Becca decides to film a documentary about meeting her grandparents for the first time in the hopes that she can find out why her mother hasn’t spoken to her parents in 15 years, and to see if she can find a way to help her mother rebuild her relationship with them.
As Becca and Tyler say goodbye to their mother, they board a train to Pennsylvania to meet their grandparents, Nana and Pop Pop.
Things go smoothly until the siblings start to notice strange behavior from Nana, played by Deanna Dunagan, and Pop Pop, played by Peter McRobbie.
As the grandparents’ behavior gets worse, the children discover a shocking secret that leaves them wondering if they’ll ever make it home.
Shyamalan made this story believable and could leave the audience thinking twice about leaving their children with their estranged parents.
“The Visit” has an unexpected twist that will leave the audience wondering what will happen next.
Even though her appearances in the film was sporadic, Hahn, known for “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “We’re the Millers,” convincingly played a loving mother that puts her children before herself by letting them go to her estranged parents’ house.
DeJonge, known for “The Sisterhood of Night,” successfully portrayed a young girl trying to help her mother. DeJonge played a character that wants to see her mother happy and will do whatever it takes to do that.
Oxenbould, known for “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” plays an insightful young boy that sees the oddity in his grandparents before his sister does. Oxenbould’s character brings humor to the film and effectively played this lively character.
Dunagan, known for “Have A Little Faith” and “Running Scared,” and McRobbie, known for “Lincoln” and “Spider-Man 2,” played loving grandparents when they first meet Becca and Tyler by waiting for them with a welcome sign and homemade snacks.
As time passes Dunagan and McRobbie smoothly transition into a couple with increasingly odd behavior.
Overall the cast was well selected, which made the story more convincing.
“The Visit” is currently in theaters and rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including terror, violence and some nudity and language.