M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Remain’ Earns Strong First Reactions: Jake Gyllenhaal Is ‘Incredible’ in ‘Scary as Hell’ and ‘Heartbreaking’ Thriller

M. Night Shyamalan surprised fans at Los Angeles’ Beyond Fest on Tuesday night with the world premiere of his latest thriller, “Remain,” and reactions on social media are praising lead Jake Gyllenhaal as “incredible” and the film as “unlike anything” the director has ever done. Though the supernatural romance — co-written by Nicholas Sparks — isn’t set to release until February, it was the surprise screening ahead of a retrospective presentation of Shyamalan’s 1998 classic “The Sixth Sense.” “Remain” stars Gyllenhaal as New York architect Tate Gordon, who “heads to Cape Cod to design a summer home for his best friend, seeking a fresh start after being treated for acute depression,” according to the film’s synopsis. “Still mourning his sister’s death, he meets Wren (Phoebe Dynevor), a young woman who disrupts his carefully ordered world.” The movie seems to have been a hit with Beyond Fest viewers. FilmSpeak host and critic Griffin Schiller said it shows Shyamalan at “his most earnest and sincere,” calling it a “heartfelt and romantic throwback to his early work.” Gyllenhaal is “a perfect Shyamalan lead; subdued but soulful,” he continued, while Dynevor is “magnetic.” Popular on Variety Actor and filmmaker Luke Barnett echoed that sentiment, predicting the film will “crush” at the box office and noting that it reminds the audience that “nobody does ‘fun, movie theater horror’ like M. Night.” Writer and comedian Josh Levesque said “Remain” is both “scary as hell and heartbreaking, while critic AccordingToSeth called the film “unlike anything M. Night Shyamalan has ever done,” adding: “His funniest film yet, but also heartbreaking, heartwarming, scary, romantic and just absolutely beautiful.” See all the first reactions to “Remain” below. #Remain is Shyamalan at his most earnest and sincere. Such a heartfelt and romantic throwback to his early work bolstered by another sensation James Newton Howard score. Arguably his most achingly vulnerable since Signs. A beautiful film about openness, intimacy, self love, and… pic.twitter.com/5W0m346B8E— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) September 30, 2026 REMAIN is going to crush. A great reminder that nobody does “fun, movie theater horror” like M. Night. Has the humor of Signs with tight emotional ghosty story of Sixth Sense. Lot of great scares. See it big and loud when it comes out.— Luke Barnett (@LukeBarnett) September 30, 2026 REMAIN is M Night’s most polished film in some time. The vistavision photography and INCREDIBLE score by James Newton Howard sell this earnest romance. FUNNY – Jake Gyllenhaal is excellent at selling the classic M Night awkwardness. Major chemistry with Dynevor #beyondfest pic.twitter.com/crUsVrkR0Q— The King of Burbank @ Beyondfest (@kingofburbank2) September 30, 2026 REMAIN is unlike anything M. Night Shyamalan has ever done. His funniest film yet, but also heartbreaking, heartwarming, scary, romantic, and just absolutely beautiful.The score pierces your soul, and Phoebe Dynevor and Jake Gyllenhaal are ELECTRIC together. Their romance feels… pic.twitter.com/VAqyMgH7wk— Accordingtoseth (@according2seth) September 30, 2026 I thought we were seeing The Sixth Sense tonight but M. Night came out and said he wanted to show us Remain first 🤯 this one doesn't come out until February!! Scary as hell and heartbreaking. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/5j3YPghz1u— Josh Levesque (@JoshBLevesque) September 30, 2026 After watching many of Night’s films with @BeyondFest we were treated to the new M Night film a bit early — coming in Feb 2027. REMAIN is M Night at his most calibrated – mixing romance, comedy, and horror in a pitch perfect way that he truly has mastered since The Visit. He’s… pic.twitter.com/DJf7bvx87q— Will Landman 🍥 (@WillTheLandMan) September 30, 2026 Watched a surprise screening of M. Night Shyamalan’s REMAIN at @BeyondFest. A really enjoyable, consistently funny ghost story. There’s, of course, no subtlety, but that’s part of the package with the peculiar blend of Shyamalan & Nicholas Sparks. Jake Gyllenhaal is wonderful. pic.twitter.com/99b8NdCwwa— Carlos Aguilar (@Carlos_Film) September 30, 2026