Horror/suspense director M. Night Shyamalan is back, screenwriting and directing Old, based on the graphic novel by Pierre-Oscar Lévy and Frederick Peeters. Despite a rocky start, the film picks up in the middle, rolling menacingly forward toward the director’s classic twist at the end.

As their lives fall apart due to illness and a failing marriage, Guy (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Prisca (Vicky Krieps) bring their children Maddox and Trent on a final family vacation. They intend to create memories the children can hold onto when they are older. But as they enjoy a private, secluded beach with two other couples, they begin to notice changes – first in the children who are aging rapidly, and then in themselves. After determining they have approximately a day to live, the stranded vacationers search desperately for a way to survive and escape the beach before their time runs out.

Shyamalan’s unique style is all over this film, from the odd way he directs the actors to the subtle arrangements in the movie. As always, numerous little clues are easy to miss. However, there are occasions when attention is drawn directly to their placement, and this takes something away from the joy of viewing one of his movies. There are also a few dangling items in the script, which is out of character for a director known for tying things up nicely.

The character performances start out as wooden, but this must be part of the plan since it is so even amongst them all. As the audience begins to live a lifetime with these people in one night, each becomes more real, and so do the portrayals. By the end, the raw emotions of the characters and stories are gripping and sometimes terrifying. Shyamalan manages to draw some downright frightening performances from the actors as they display different illnesses and phobias with expert care.

The cinematography is stunning. Long shots, partial close-ups, half-light, and odd camera angles are used to set the movie’s mood and are very effective throughout. It is unfortunate that the film’s plot is so widely known because it does detract from some of the scenes and thereby some of the camera work. The mystery would have given these scenes a more significant impact. As impressive as the filming is, the star of the technical crew is the makeup department. While the illness and horror makeup are quite good, the use of color and shadow for the aging makeup makes the progression subtle enough to be disturbing and believable.

In Old, M. Night Shyamalan lets viewers know that he is still at the top of his game. The story is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Audiences will find the concept new and fresh, but for Shyamalan, preying on personal fears and inflating them to nightmares is old school.