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The Visit (2015 film)

The Visit is a 2015 American found-footage horror film written, co-produced, and directed by M.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Visit is a 2015 American found-footage horror film written, co-produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It follows two siblings who visit their estranged grandparents and uncover disturbing behaviour at their farmstead. The film was released by Universal Pictures on September 11, 2015, and was widely seen as a commercial success and a return to form for Shyamalan.

Plot

Two siblings travel to their grandparents’ Pennsylvania farmhouse for a weeklong visit arranged by their mother. They gradually discover that the elderly couple are behaving in disturbing ways and try to uncover the truth.

Production

The film was written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, with Jason Blum among the producers. It was made as a low-budget found-footage horror film.

Release and reception

Universal Pictures released the film in North America on September 11, 2015. It performed strongly at the box office and received generally positive reviews. The film grossed about $98.5 million worldwide against a $5 million production budget. Critical response was generally positive, with many reviewers describing it as a comeback for Shyamalan. The film was released in Canada through Universal Pictures and was also distributed in Québec under the French title La Visite.[3]

Style and genre

The Visit is commonly described as a found-footage horror film, though some sources also classify it as a mystery-thriller with comedic elements. Its PG-13 rating reflected thematic material, terror, violence, brief language, and some nudity.

Key facts

  • Stars Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, and Kathryn Hahn.
  • The story centers on siblings Becca and Tyler, who visit their maternal grandparents for the first time and notice increasingly bizarre behaviour.
  • The film uses a found-footage style and blends horror with thriller and comedy elements.
  • It grossed about $98.5 million worldwide against a $5 million production budget.
  • Critical response was generally positive, with many reviewers describing it as a comeback for Shyamalan.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada through Universal Pictures and was also distributed in Québec under the French title La Visite.[3]

Frequently asked questions

What is The Visit about?
It follows two siblings who stay with their estranged grandparents and uncover something deeply disturbing at the grandparents’ farmhouse.
Who directed The Visit?
M. Night Shyamalan directed the film and also wrote and co-produced it.
When was The Visit released?
It opened in North America on September 11, 2015.
What genre is The Visit?
It is primarily a found-footage horror film, with some sources also describing it as a comedy-mystery-thriller.
How successful was The Visit commercially?
It earned about $98.5 million worldwide against a $5 million budget.
Who stars in The Visit?
The main cast includes Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, and Kathryn Hahn.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit_(2015_American_film)
    Supports: Director, cast, genre, plot, release date, and box office figures.
  2. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_visit_2015
    Supports: Synopsis, genre classification, and release date.
  3. Wikipediahttps://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit_(film,_2015)
    Supports: French-Canadian title La Visite and film identification.
  4. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3567288/
    Supports: Release date and plot summary.
  5. Common Sense Mediahttps://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-visit
    Supports: Rating, runtime, director, cast, and synopsis.
  6. Universal Pictures / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfQnRjkuvaY
    Supports: Official trailer description, producers, and plot premise.