What sticks out most to me in this film is that it is actually pretty fun to watch. Instead of making profound statements or reaching further than he can grasp, Shyamalan focuses on a good idea with good characters and really plays around with them and the audience's expectations. What surprised me most about this movie is that it is very funny! The brother is a stand-out character, as he has many funny quips and moments in the film that feel real.
Besides the moments of pure comedy that are present, there are also moments of very dark humor, such as an incredibly tense game of Yahtzee at the end of the movie that had me roaring. I give major props to a movie that can be just straight fun to watch, and that is where most of my enthusiasm for this movie comes from. It does have some jump scares, but what is different is that the film earns them by sustaining a chilling atmosphere instead of just using jumps to cheaply scare the audience. It is quite the creepy film, and it is something that is notable. Another notable element is that the film is shot using handheld cameras, leading to a documentary-esque feeling. This makes sense in the context of the story, as Shyamalan wants to make us feel as wary of the grandparents as the kids are, considering both the audience and the kids have never met them before. The Visit is a creepy little flick that is a lot of fun to watch and one that I would recommend to anybody who is looking for a good time. I wouldn't pay more than a matinee price for it but regardless, it is a very good movie, certainly the director's best in a long time!
The Visit gets a 7/10.
