Read Kidzworld’s review of The Visit, the new scary movie/comedy with a twist starring Ed Oxenbould, star of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
By: Lynn Barker
Ever go to your grandparents’ house? Do they have a few new rules for you to follow like a new bedtime? Not so bad but do they ask you to climb in the oven to clean it and warn you to never leave your room after 9:30? Probably not.
Want to climb in the oven to clean it?Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Story Goes
Teens Becca (Olivia de Jonge) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) go to visit the grandparents they’ve never met while mom ( Kathyrn Hahn ) goes with her boyfriend on a cruise. Becca, a budding filmmaker, decides to learn the secret of why mom left home years ago to elope with their dad, an older man who was mom’s teacher. She’ll make a documentary out of what she shoots. She is still angry since dad deserted the family.
What are Nana and Pop-Pop up to?Courtesy of Universal Pictures
The grandparents Nana (Deanna Dunigan) and Pop-Pop (Peter McRobbie) greet them at the train station and warn them not to go into the mold-ridden basement and be in bed by 9:30 every night. As both Nana and Pop-Pop do more and more weird things, the kids tell their mom via Skype. Mom just reminds them that the grandparents are old and eccentric.
Tyler and Becca Skype their momCourtesy of Universal Pictures
When a visitor disappears, Nana stalks the house at night with a butcher knife and Pop-Pop seems about to blow his head off with a shotgun, Tyler decides to plant a video camera in the living room to record all the nightly weirdness. When mom sees the footage she has a revelation for the kids that will change everything. Just how weird and dangerous are the grandparents? Will the kids learn the family secrets and escape?
Finally, mom to the rescueCourtesy of Universal Pictures
Wrapping Up
With real-life scares and some comedy on the side, The Visit makes for a strange but entertaining trip to the cineplex. All the actors are really excellent and Ed Oxenbould who played the lead in Alexander and the Terrible Horrible….. (you know) Day, is both heartbreaking and very funny. Who knew he could rap on any subject?
The director on set with Ed Oxenbould (right)Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Like in all of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies, there is a twist that you may or may not see coming but, unlike what is shown in the trailers for the film, the movie has a lot of dark comedy and just plan funny moments, mostly due to Ed’s character. There are a few developments that aren’t explained all that well but combining a lot of the angst and sorrow that comes from a broken family makes for good character development for both mom (played wonderfully by talented Kathryn Hahn) and her two teen kids (Aussies Ed and Olivia de Jonge). You might identify with some of their issues.
Nana sneaks up behind BeccaCourtesy of Universal Pictures
There is a gross out factor that has to do with adult “diapers” that may draw an “ewwwww” out of you but it’s just part of what makes “Nana” and “Pop-Pop” the weirdest grandparents ever! If you like your horror with a liberal dash of humor, you will probably get a kick out of The Visit. We go 3 stars.
Hey kids, want to play a game?Courtesy of Universal Pictures
The Visit Movie Rating:
The Visit PosterCourtesy of Universal Pictures
The Visit is in theaters now!
**PG-13**
