Considering Shyamalan’s films, including The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs, are famous for their twists and turns, it appeared inevitable there would be a lot more to the plot than meets the eye – and reviews for the film confirm this to be the case.
But the reviews are not too enthusiastic about the overall film, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “a moderately entertaining thriller” and Variety stating that each of the film’s many twists is “more contrived than the last”.
The outlet added: “Asking an audience to go with something that is this fundamentally farfetched borders on an insult. More to the point: It’s not fun.”
Collider says the film showcases “glimpses of [Shyamalan’s] former brilliance but ultimately falters with awkward choices and laughable moments.”
In a more positive review, The Wrap said that, while the film “doesn’t have the depth of Shyamalan’s most important films or the theatricality of his most memorably weird experiments” it is “one of his best thrillers”.
Shyamalan has been all about self-parody since Lady in the Water (after stumbling into it in The Village).
Critics really think he’s striving for more and landing on being ridiculous, but I’ve just accepted that this is what he does. This is him doing what he does.
I can find satisfaction in that. I know what I’m setting myself up for when I watch one of his films now; nothing more.