Writer and director M. Night Shyamalan kicked off the 2020s with his 2021 existential thriller film, "Old." This film stands out as one of Shyamalan's richest thematic and conceptual works. Previously known for playing with light supernatural elements, Shyamalan gained recognition particularly for "The Sixth Sense" and the critically panned 2008 film "The Happening." "Old" tells the story of a family confronting death while hiding a devastating secret from their children on a beach that causes rapid aging. Like many of Shyamalan's films, it explores themes of parenting and facing the unknown.

In the last decade, Shyamalan's approach to cinema has shifted away from big budgets and Hollywood spectacle, focusing on producing films with striking high concepts set in single locations. In this context, "Old" bears similarities to the science fiction horror anthology series "The Twilight Zone," created by Rod Serling in the 1960s. This series often played with absurd, terrifying, and deeply ironic themes. Episodes of "Twilight Zone" typically upended audience expectations while also addressing the unexpected consequences of situations like the granting of a wish. Shyamalan's best works thrive in this realm, and he cites this series as an inspiration for the stylistic and narrative risks he takes in the film.

"Old" opens with an innocent beginning; a family on vacation, much like in Shyamalan's 2023 film "Knock at the Cabin," is hiding the news of their impending separation from their children. Parents Prisca and Guy (Vicky Krieps and Gael García Bernal) hope this tropical island getaway will be a comfort for the kids. However, like most viewers of Shyamalan's films, they cannot predict what will happen to them; their day at the beach makes them realize how little time they have left. Using the vast landscapes of the Dominican Republic, Shyamalan paradoxically isolates the characters and reflects the general anxiety and unrest of pandemic life, as the film was shot during the COVID-19 pandemic.