The Visit isn’t a bad movie but any stretch and certainly M. Night’s best offering in some time but by the same token, it employs the tired found footage style and although there are some creepy moments, as a whole, it’s not anything memorable. The performances especially that of Olivia DeJonge, are decent enough.
The Visit
(2015)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Universal Studios | PG13 – 94 min. – $34.98 | January 5, 2016
Date Published: 12/31/2015 | Author: The Movieman
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THE MOVIE – 3.0/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: When Becca (OLIVIA DEJONGE) and Tyler (ED OXENBOULD) are sent to their grandparents’ secluded Pennsylvania farm for a weeklong stay, they quickly discover something is not right with the elderly couple (PETER MCROBBIE, DEANNA DUNAGAN). Faced with strange rules and increasingly frightening and bizarre behavior, the children soon realize it will take all their wits to make it home alive. Quick Hit Review: The Visit has received good to even rave reviews, proclaiming the return of M. Night of old but I surmise that because he’s been so bad since Unbreakable, so going on 13 years, that anything of even average quality is surprising. Indeed, The Visit isn’t altogether bad and has some truly creepy moments with fun bits of humor, yet it loses points right off the bat as Shyamalan employs the tired concept of the found footage style.
This time it’s a faux documentary filmed by Becca in her attempts to reconcile a long-standing feud between her mother (KATHRYN HAHN) and grandmother, some event that happened years earlier but neither will speak about. Although I downright loathe the found footage concept, this one is at least tolerable and on the more believable side. There’s also some conceits employed such as the excuse why Becca and Tyler decide to hide one of their cameras in the living room overnight. Of course, this is nearly ruined with a lame ass jump scare. Another movie pet peeve, perhaps second to found footage, are child actors and on that front, Shyamalan succeeds (for the most part) casting two fairly talented young actors, though Olivia DeJonge comes out the best and could be a star in the making with wonderful on-screen charisma, able to pull off the documentary concept. Even Ed Oxenbould, whose character likes to rap early on, is moderately bearable.
Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Visit is a mostly effective suspense/thriller with a well done twist and respectable enough writing. However, for all that works, the found footage aspect was annoying though of the recent ones, it is probably a bit more tolerable. Although I don’t think M. Night has recaptured the magic of his hayday between The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable but it is absolutely better than The Village, Lady in the Water and The Happening and thankfully he remains behind the camera. This is at best probably worth a rental but I suppose if the concept is interesting and you don’t mind the found footage style, The Visit might be worth a purchase at the right price. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.0/5 |
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This release comes with an embossed slip cover. Inside is a redemption code for the Digital HD copy as well as the standard DVD Copy. Alternate Ending (2:25; HD) – This is nothing special, just a different “emotional” version. What Shyamalan went with was better. Deleted Scenes (8:35; HD) – Here we get 10 scenes removed or trimmed and even though there is no commentary, it’s probably due to time constraints and pacing issues. The Making of The Visit (9:56; HD) is an all too short featurette with some behind-the-scenes footage and an interview with M. Night who explains why he went low budget with this project, though the bulk is more about him rather than the film itself… Becca’s Photos (1:13; HD) is merely a gallery of pics taken by the character. |
VIDEO – 4.25/5 |
| Considering this was filmed found footage style, I wasn’t expecting much but this 1080p transfer, shown in its original 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio, doesn’t look half bad. Colors are generally vibrant during the daytime while night shots are stark and smooth. Detail looks good and for the most part, it’s clean, free of artifacts and aliasing. It’s not amazing or anything but a fine transfer. |
AUDIO – 3.5/5 |
| Although this 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track isn’t dynamic, it does get the job done. The bulk of the film is dialogue so the majority of the audio comes via the center channel with minimal usage of the rear speaker, in fact at times, there’s absolutely nothing coming out. Still, it’s an adequate lossless track for a film like this, just don’t go in expecting very much depth. |
OVERALL – 3.0/5 |
| Overall, The Visit isn’t a bad movie but any stretch and certainly M. Night’s best offering in some time but by the same token, it employs the tired found footage style and although there are some creepy moments, as a whole, it’s not anything memorable. The performances especially that of Olivia DeJonge, are decent enough. The Visit is the type of movie worthy maybe of a rental. The Blu-ray released by Universal has good video, OK audio and a throwaway selection of bonus material. |
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.