Rent Old (2021)

What? - Old review by AK

Really bad. Terrible dialogue as if they were all reading a terrible script. Too many plot holes and unbelievable character behavior.

A lot of nepotism on set. Kurosawa - seriously? How embarrassing for everyone involved. And about what? How time goes by so quickly. The film didn't go by quick enough for this amazing turkey from a proven talent. Maybe he had covid brain fog?

very disappointing - Old review by AK

This was so disappointing. Some good actors but many speaking in their second language or in an uncomfortable accent and having to deliver a really odd script. I found myself feeling sorry for them as actors rather than believing the characters. Rufus Sewell gives a very good performance despite the odds against him but it's not enough to save the film for me. Far from being on the edge of my seat, I found it rather boring. The ending, when it finally came, was silly, like something from a child's comic.

Conspiracy Theory Island meets Sandy Horror - Old review by BS

Is this a good film? Absolutely not. There is an intriguing premise that drags out into absurdity and frustration. Only at the end do we get a sense of a greater and more interesting conspiracy, which is quite timely. Would Big Pharma companies use unwitting tourists as guinea pigs - sacrificing them for the greater good? On that basis this is a tad like Squid Game. People are dying, seemingly deliberately, but is there method in the madness? There are some maddening plot-holes in this film, and inconsistencies with the narrative logic, that are inexcusably silly. I would list some here, but then I don't want to spoil it for you, if you're so inclined to rent this. Interesting concept, massively flawed execution.

Strange Mystery/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller - Old review by GI

Famed for his big plot twists (many of which are fairly predictable) this new film from director M. Night Shyamalan goes for a more slow burning mystery thriller vibe that at times makes the film feel ponderous and at the same time quite intriguing. A stressed out family of husband (Gael García Bernal), wife (Vicky Krieps) and their 11 year old daughter and 6 year old son arrive at a luxury resort for a well deserved holiday. The hotel driver (played by Shyamalan hilmself) takes them, along with some other guests, to a secluded beach for the day. Quickly the guests all sense something is wrong and they find they begin aging one year for every thirty minutes and seemingly are unable to escape the beach. The narrative focuses on the few characters trapped many of whom have some serious physical and mental conditions. For much of the film, which feels too long, they try to work out what's happening and how to escape. The film is light on effects and there aren't any real shocks or real plot twists although there is a rather weak explanation of sorts at the end. This is a film that is a mix of silliness and yet a serious attempt to look at mortality and the issue of aging. It's all vaguely unsatisfying while bizarrely watchable.

Awful - Old review by SKC

Sixth sense was an outstanding film. I don't think this guy has ever made a decent film since then,. This was just awful.

A captivating movie for true film lovers - Old review by Alphaville

Ignore the negative reviews and settle down to be captivated. If you don’t thrill to this, you don’t get film. This is a real MOVIE and M. Knight Shyamalan’s best since The Sixth Sense. Even if it didn’t have such a fascinating theme, it’s a pleasure to spend a couple of hours on a gorgeous Dominican Republic beach, beautifully filmed with dazzling camerawork, for which Knight credits Kurasawa. The idea is that the camera remains independent of the action and only captures it obliquely ‘by chance’ (see DVD Xtras). Hard to visualise, but it really works. Film is a visual medium and this is a feast for the eyes.

Unlike many writer/directors, Shyamalan also knows how to tell a good story that remains intriguing right up to the very end. You’ll probably know from the awful title, DVD blurb, trailer etc that it’s about a beach that ages you fast, so plot development is rapid and ensures there’s never a dull moment. Imagine Summer Holiday as a sci-fi thriller, a mystery, a morality tale, a family drama and with elements of horror all rolled into one.

Shyamalan’s ambition is so massive that, if anything, too much is crammed in, which perhaps leaves some holes for nit-picking critics to carp at afterwards. But his accomplishment is equally massive. Consider this: what would it be like to be fully grown at the age of 6?

There are few films these days that keep you glued to the screen every second of the way. This is one of them. Excellent set of DVD Xtras too.

DIFFERENT - Old review by LB

A horror in its own right ,unusual plot ,makes a change from usual in the shower scenes ,intruder in the house ,girls school etc