It seems like everyone is extremely busy these days, but in running the rat race we often times forget to take a step back and appreciate the things that matter. The latest film from M. Night Shyamalan explores the folly of the way modern people live. Old begins by introducing us to family of four Guy (Gael García Bernal), Prisca (Vicky Krieps), 11-year-old daughter Maddox (Alexa Swinton), and 6-year-old son Trent (Nolan River) headed to vacation in paradise. We soon meeting three other families and couples at the resort. The seemingly too good to be true resort’s director (Gustaf Hammarsten) soon invites them to their resort’s special private beach for the day when suddenly, they realize that things are not as they seem. They along with Surgeon Charles (Rufus Sewell), his elderly mother (Kathleen Chalfant), young wife Chrystal (Abbey Lee Kershaw), and their 5-year-old daughter Kara; rapper Mid-Sized Sedan (Aaron Pierre); and a couple consisting of nurse Jarin (Ken Leung) and psychologist Patricia (Nikki Amuka-Bird) are thrust into a chaotic situation and figure out that the beach is aging them all approximately two years per hour, exacerbating the chronic medical conditions that almost all of the adults are suffering from. They soon are forced to try to figure out how to escape before it’s too late.
It may seem obvious to say that Old’s story centers around the concept of time, but the film delves more deeply into the subject than just the general plotline horror thriller concept of being trapped on an island where time moves rapidly. Rather, its theme poignantly explores our society’s valuation of time and what we choose to focus on as we live out our lives and those of the ones that we love. Shyamalan holds a mirror up to our own world through the one he crafts within the film by molding each of the film’s characters into an archetype that is reflective of the mindset of someone in modern society. A vapid young trophy wife who values appearances and things above all, a married couple ready to split their family due to the emotions of their current moment, a doctor concerned with his profession and it’s reputation above all. As the events in the film unfold and the audience experiences the terror of rapidly aging and being unable to do anything about alongside the characters, we come to the realization of what is truly valuable and important in life, connections and experiences, simultaneously as well. The moments that we share with our loved ones, our connection to them, watching our children grow up and into their own.
Guy and Prisca’s story arc best encapsulates what Old is trying to communicate to its audience as we slowly learn about the trials and tribulations of their marriage on the brink involving terminal illness, infidelity, distrust, and personality flaws. As the couple spends time together on the beach managing crisis and protecting their children as best they can, they come to realize how unimportant or ultimately manageable the things that had been threatening their marriage truly were. Gael García Bernal and Vicky Krieps’ performances convincingly portray a couple that, as they raced against time to escape the island before rapidly aging toward death, forget about the clutter and only remember and hold onto what had always been the most important things in their lives; their children and each other. In a world where we increasingly value things, careers, attention from strangers artificially made closer by tech applications, and of course, money, the message illustrated in Old is one that resonates.
The film’s gory body horror elements are mostly hidden from direct view and implied through Shyamalan’s inventive cinematography featuring close up shots, shifting focus, off camera dialogue as the camera shoots a different character, and reaction shots of characters seeing the gruesome deaths rather than the deaths themselves. This helps to create a sense of dread and terror by playing on the audience’s imaginations, rather than explicitly showing them. The performances of the actors in the film carry the rest of the load, led by Krieps, Bernal, and the young adult versions of Maddox (Thomasin McKenzie) and Trent (Alex Wolff). The family’s love and struggles serve as the main thread through which the film’s themes are displayed and all four actors capably display the necessary range of emotions.
Old is one of the more poignant films released in recent memory, beautifully driving home its point about our failure to value what really matters amidst life’s hustle and bustle. M. Night Shyamalan deftly juggles the film’s various tones and elements, utilizing skillful camera work and cinematography, implied horror, and even well timed humor in addition to the film’s thoughtful examination of what our society chooses to focus on. Old of course includes a trademark Shyamalan twist and while the twist on what exactly was going on at the beach works and makes sense, it does take out a bit of steam in what was a moving and beautiful statement on valuing our time together on Earth by focusing on answering questions surrounding the larger mystery at its center. Ultimately, this is a nitpick that pushes the film down from unquestioned top five film of the year to just in the conversation, but it is a slight issue nonetheless. Despite this one flaw, Old is one of the best films of the year and an affecting reminder that sometimes, we must slow time ourselves and simply enjoy all who surround us.
Image: Universal Pictures
