The trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s newest movie,Old, looks and feels familiar. That’s because, for the first time in a while, it’s a Shyamalan movie that’s reminiscent of the horror films he built his career on and is most known for. It’s been a while since audiences have been treated to a classic Shyamalan horror flick, and maybe that’s whyOldlooks like it might actually be one ofthe must-see horror movies of 2021.
Shyamalan has been making films for almost 30 years now and has become a household name in that time. BetweenThe Sixth SenseandGlass, he’s made a movie for almost everyone. But it’s been six years since his last horror film,The Visit, came out and it’s about time that he returned to his roots. The premise ofOldseems simple: a family vacationing on a beach realizes that something is causing them to age so fast that they’re in danger of living out their whole life during just one day. Sounds straightforward enough but, as always with Shyamalan,there is bound to be a twist somewhere.
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Shyamalan’s career has had its ups and downs. To be more specific, his horror movies have almost always been hits while his other work has brought on more criticism. His first big hit,The Sixth Sense, not only gave audiences the creeps but also introduced them to the concept of the Shyamalan surprise twist ending that they’ve now come to expect. Plus it introduced the oft-quoted line, “I see dead people.” He followed up the hit film with the sleeper superhero flickUnbreakable, which is more of a sci-fi drama and found less initial success. It has since found a loyal fan base and eventually even connected to the world ofSplitandGlassin later years.
His next two films were back-t0-back horror successes and marked a hot streak for the director. The extraterrestrial horrorSignsstunned audiences and is still one of the most respected alien films made to date afterthe original alien horror,Alien, of course. The scene of the first alien sighting is seared into fans' memories and the movie stands out for the masterful, slow burn to its climax. The memorable performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Mel Gibson were the cherry on top that tied it all together.
Next,The Villagetold the tale of a small, isolated town that believed leaving their village would mean facing horrendous monsters outside their walls. The ensemble cast is impressive but leading lady Bryce Dallas Howard expertly leads the audience along as she discovers the truth about the outside world. The film was well-received and even nominated for an Oscar for its musical score.
PostThe Village, Shyamalan hit a long downward slope that lasted until 2015.Lady In The Waterwas a fantasy-mystery and that didn’t quite hit the mark for audiences or critics. It even won a few Razzie awards, the ironic awards given for underwhelming films, for worst director and worst supporting actor. His next film,The Happening, was an equally unwatchable sci-fi drama that tried and failed to convince audiences that plants and foliage were to be feared. Following that flop was a string of projects that saw the director stepping away from his usual tricks with big-budget, studio projectsThe Last Airbender, which one critic called one ofthe worst movies of the last decade, andAfter Earth,both of which were forgettable.
Finally, Shyamalan returned to the small-scale horror with the found-footage filmThe Visit.The underrated film merges horror and comedyand follows two siblings visiting their estranged grandparents, whose behavior becomes increasingly strange and disturbing. The film was better than anything fans had seen from the director in years. It’s proof that once Shyamalan is in his element he’s capable of producing scares, surprises, and thought-provoking material.
That’s why expectations are high forOld. All the elements of the film, from its source material to the plot, have come together in a potentially promising way. The parents of the family are played by Gael García Bernal, who always turns out a good performance, and Vicky Krieps (Hanna). The movie also features Alex Wolff, who stunned audiences with his performance in theinstant horror hit and breakout filmHereditary, and Thomasin McKenzie ofJojo Rabbit.
The film is based on the graphic novel ‘Sandcastle,’ which Amazon describes as a “profoundly disturbing and fantastical mystery.” There is certainlya lot to scrutinize over in the trailer, like the possibility of the film exploring themes around aging and time slipping by when you’re too preoccupied to appreciate it. Although it appears that the villain in the movie is time itself, there’s a scene where the family is trying to escape the beach through caves, only to run into something unseen that scares them enough to turn back. They also come across an unknown language resembling runes or ancient script that implies there’s something more sinister behind their rapid aging.
Whatever plot surprises come fromOld, it’s a relief for fans to see the director return to his roots once again. On occasion, his non-horror films, likeSplitandGlass, were enjoyable and did well at the box office. But it’s clear that his most impressive talent shines through when he’s knee-deep in a horror project that he can put a twist ending on.
Oldwill be released in theatres on July 23, 2025.
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