Rated: M
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Written by: M. Night Shyamalan
Based on the Graphic Novel: ‘Sandcastle’ by Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters
Produced by: M. Night Shyamalan, Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Kathleen Chalfant, Alexa Swinton, Nolan River, Kylie Begley, Embeth Davidtz, Eliza Scanlen, Alex Wolff, Emun Elliott, Thomasin McKenzie.
I wasn’t overly impressed with the trailer for, Old: people going to a beach and getting old. Quickly.
But being a Shyamalan film, there’s always going to be more to the story.
Based on the graphic novel, Sandcastle the idea of people stranded on a beach, rapidly aging, gave Shyamalan the foundation of the film.
I don’t know whether it’s because I haven’t been to the beach, heard the waves or being greeted at a resort with a cocktail for a while (supposed to be in Magnetic Island right now but currently in lockdown, grrr) – the scenery added another dimension: the water always flowing, keeping time.
The Capa family arrive via a private bus to resort, Anamica.
There’s the sound of birds and cicadas: the sound of the tropics.
The daughter, Maddox (Alexa Swinton) is singing.
‘I can’t wait to hear it when you’re older,’ says Prisca (Vicky Krieps) about her daughter’s voice, mother of Maddox and young son Trent (Nolan River).
Some of the hints are heavy handed.
Yet the family dynamic with husband, Guy (Gael García Bernal) and Prisca’s relationship being played out in front of their children; and their young son hanging out with his new friend, Idlib (Kailen Jude) son of the resort manager: ‘What’s your name and occupation,’ the two boys ask the resort guests. It’s the sort of thing kids do when they’re free and happy on holidays. And a great way to introduce the main characters.
It’s all very watchable.
Like an easy listening radio station. It’s easy watching.
But there’s always hints of what’s to come.
A guest has an epileptic seizure at breakfast. But she’s OK.
Parents keep secrets from their kids.
There’re buzzards flying overhead.
Given an invitation to a private beach, it’s made very clear it’s a secret. Just for the Capa family. But then other guests get on board the bus.
They’re driven through the jungle.
Just walk through a cave and you’re there.
The cave opens-up onto a pristine beach, surrounded by rocky cliffs.
A lone man sits in the distance.
The kids find buried cutlery and dolls in the sand.
There’s no phone reception.
Then the children on the beach begin to change.
‘Something is going on with time on this beach.’
I expected the build to be boring. But there’s enough mystery going on with the characters inside the main storyline to allow pace.
The timing is important in the film because the whole story’s about time.
Old isn’t edge-of-your-seat action or thriller, but suspense handled well.
The kids particularly at the start of the film ease the story in nicely.
I like Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) as the mum.
The casting all round was well done, the change of the young kids to the older characters believable.
Except the glaring change in eye colour for one character (not giving anything away), from blue to brown when she gets older a jolt out of a tenuous suspended reality. I don’t know whether I missed something or a genuine oversight? But it felt like swapping out an actor in a soap opera and everyone pretending it’s the same character. The change threw me.
Yet even after this stretch the film was still better than expected with good pacing making the mystery overall, an intriguing watch.
