M. Night Shyamalan has become an incredibly polarizing director over the course of his career. For his latest film, he’s returned to his roots with The Visit, a small-scale thriller about a couple of kids who go to spend time with their estranged grandparents while their mother is away on vacation. It will be interesting to see the reaction to this one, and I was eager to speak with Shyamalan after I caught the film at Comic-Con.

During our conversation, we talked about his decision to make The Visit as a found-footage movie (although he doesn’t think it’s in that genre), the autobiographical aspects of the characters, becoming synonymous with twist endings, if he might ever pick up Unbreakable into a sequel or TV series, and more.

Watch the full interview below. The Visit opens September 11th.

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M. Night Shyamalan

  • 0:50 – On deciding to make a found-footage film (although he doesn’t see it as part of that genre).
  • 2:27 – The autobiographical aspects of the characters.
  • 3:10 – If the twist ending of The Sixth Sense could have been kept under wraps if it had been released today.
  • 4:07 – On being responsible for “Being dead the whole time” as shorthand for a twist ending.
  • 4:42 – If he feels he’s become synonymous with twist endings.
  • 5:44 – On combating people being prepare for twists.
  • 6:35 – What drew him to doing a small story like The Visit after doing blockbusters like The Last Airbender and After Earth.
  • 8:16 – The difficulty on balancing the horror and the comedy.
  • 9:55 – If he sees any possible continuation for Unbreakable.
  • 10:50 – If he kept sequels in mind when working on The Last Airbender.
  • 11:33 – If he might attempt to do another TV series.

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