M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Remain’ Surprises at Beyond Fest With Positive Audience Reactions

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
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M. Night Shyamalan is known for his unpredictable career in Hollywood. While he hasn’t received overwhelmingly positive reviews since ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Unbreakable’, his 2024 film ‘Trap’ grossed over $86 million against a $30 million budget. Each new project sparks curiosity about which version of Shyamalan will emerge.

His latest film, ‘Remain’, has a unique background. Co-created with bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, who published a novel version in October 2025, Shyamalan wrote the screenplay independently. The story follows Jake Gyllenhaal as Tate, a grieving architect battling depression who relocates to Cape Cod and encounters Wren, portrayed by Phoebe Dynevor, a mysterious woman who disrupts his orderly life.

The first audience reactions are in after Shyamalan surprised fans with a world premiere of ‘Remain’ at Los Angeles’ Beyond Fest, just before a retrospective screening of his 1998 classic ‘The Sixth Sense’. The early feedback on social media has been overwhelmingly positive.

FilmSpeak host Griffin Schiller described the film as Shyamalan at his most earnest, calling it a heartfelt, romantic nod to his earlier works. Another attendee, known as The King of Burbank, praised it as Shyamalan’s most polished film in years, highlighting the VistaVision photography and the score by James Newton Howard.

Will the Land Man noted that the film expertly balances romance, comedy, and horror, a skill Shyamalan has honed since ‘The Visit’. Luke Barnett remarked that no one does fun, theatrical horror quite like him, comparing the humor to ‘Signs’ and the emotional ghost story elements to ‘The Sixth Sense’, while also mentioning the film’s effective scares.

Critic Carlos Aguilar succinctly stated that Gyllenhaal is wonderful. Another viewer, Amir Malekpour, even likened it to ‘Vertigo’, suggesting that it represents Shyamalan’s own take on the Hitchcock classic.

The performances of the leads garnered the most applause. Schiller called Gyllenhaal a perfect Shyamalan lead, subdued yet soulful, while Dynevor was described as magnetic for her ability to balance torment and tenderness.

The King of Burbank praised Gyllenhaal for effectively portraying the classic Shyamalan awkwardness and noted the strong chemistry between him and Dynevor. Seth, posting as @according2seth, claimed the film is unlike anything Shyamalan has done before, calling it his funniest yet and describing the two leads as electric together.

The audience reactions depict a film rich in emotional depth, described as heartbreaking, heartwarming, scary, romantic, and beautiful, complemented by a score that resonates deeply.

This blend aligns with the film’s origins. World of Reel characterized it as a Hitchcock-inspired ghost-story romance, while one viewer called it a delightfully pulpy ghost story that ties together several themes from Shyamalan’s career.

Not all feedback was entirely positive. One viewer pointed out a lack of subtlety, yet acknowledged that this is part of the unique blend of Shyamalan and Sparks, still praising Gyllenhaal’s performance.

This combination of sincerity and pulpiness may be the reason for the strong buzz surrounding the film among festival audiences.

By screening the film about four months before its release, Shyamalan and Warner Bros. appear confident. Earlier this year, during Warner Bros. Discovery’s upfront presentation, Shyamalan mentioned that ‘Remain’ was the highest-testing movie of his career, and the initial response to the first trailer has also been positive.

The first teaser, released on September 8, showcased a romance that turns sinister. The film also features Ashley Walters, Julie Hagerty, and Jay O. Sanders, with Shyamalan making a cameo as Nash, a recurring habit of his.

Originally scheduled for October 23, 2026, ‘Remain’ has been moved to early February 2027 to coincide with Valentine’s Day. It will premiere in North America on February 5, 2027, with international releases starting February 3.

Given the enthusiastic reception at Beyond Fest, the anticipation for the film may only grow. For now, the consensus suggests that Shyamalan may have crafted one of his most personal films in years.

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