Old

Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, Kikki Amuka-Bird, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, Emun Elliott, M. Night Shyamalan
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
2021

Times Seen:
Tim: 1


Summary: A number of vacationers travel to an isolated beach where they slowly recognize that they're rapidly aging.

Review:

Tim: I like M. Night Shyamalan, although I admit his movies are quite up-and-down. Old is on the better end of that scale- it's a good movie, although it might not quite pack the punch that his best movies do. On the positive side, it's actually a well-made, thrilling movie. You can't say that about all of his films. So, while part of me does wish Old was better, I still enjoyed the movie and consider it a worthwhile film.

The premise is an interesting one, although it does take a bit of explaining. Fortunately, the explanations come throughout the film, so each answer to the riddle comes and gives the audience time to process it before the next one comes. There's a lot to account for- why can't they just leave the beach the way they came? Why can't they just swim away? Do other people know about the effects of the beach? The movie does a decent job of explaining this. There were more than a few moments when I worried the explanations would push our credulity too far. There's a few moments that get close, but the film toes the line on what we'll believe. Taken as a whole, the film certainly requires some suspended disbelief, but it's possible to go along with it.

The basic premise is entertaining- a group of people are stuck on a beach that causes them to rapidly age. That's simple enough to understand in a moment, but there's depth to the idea, too. The movie does a good job of exploring the ways people age, as each character reacts somewhat differently. Some of this feels a bit convenient (there's a wide variety of ailments here, from cracking minds to going blind, deaf, etc) but it's entertaining to watch. The movie isn't exactly scary- it's certainly more of a psychological horror movie. It's a bit heady- while there are intense moments, the biggest fears come from contemplating what it would be like to watch your life rush by you, gaining years in hours. That is indeed an uncomfortable thought. The way the movie examines time is quite interesting.

The cast is mostly good, although there weren't very many standouts. I like Gael Garcia Bernal and while his role felt too supporting, I thought he did a good job. His name is listed first in the cast, but this is truly an ensemble film. Bernal is good in his role. He's at his best when interacting with his young kids- that felt quite authentic. Vicky Krieps works well, too. I thought she gave a believable performance. I don't think Bernal and Krieps ever seemed like an actual couple, though. Even with their marital issues, they never seemed appropriately comfortable with each other. Rufus Sewell is always fun to watch and he embraces his role well here. He was critical to the film. Sometimes I didn't quite believe his performance (it seemed forced at times), but it mostly worked. I like Alex Wolff and he added a good deal to the film. Abbey Lee was okay- I don't think she is a very good actress. I wasn't impressed with her in Lovecraft Country and she again gives an adequate-only performance. I love Ken Leung and I was delighted to see him here. He's always effective. Thomasin McKenzie worked well, as did Embeth Davidtz. I didn't really connect with whatever Eliza Scanlen was trying to do here.

Shyamalan is know for his "twists", which I think has hurt his career. There's not a true twist like you'd think, but there is an interesting reveal. I thought it mostly worked. It doesn't blow you away, especially as it's alluded to before the reveal. It doesn't hurt the movie, but it doesn't really help that much, either.

In the end, Old isn't a movie I would enthusiastically recommend to others. I doubt I'll think too much about it and it'll never be part of the conversation of Shyamalan's best films. That being said, it's still a solid effort. I'd put it in the top half of his films, so not too bad.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Lady in the Water, The Visit