Man, people really do like putting Jake Gyllenhaal in situations. M. Night Shyamalan has joined the list with his most recent outing, Remain. The story was an original writing collaboration with Nicholas Sparks (talk about unexpected bedfellows) and released as his 2025 book that goes by the same name. Now it’s heading to the big screen from one of the men who helped create it. Shyamalan, who also wrote the screenplay, is directing and producing Remain.
Remain follows New York architect Tate Gordon (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he temporarily moves to Cape Cod to build his friend a house. He is in the throes of depression, brought on by the death of his sister. It’s there that he meets Wren, played by Phoebe Dynevor, a seemingly kindred soul.
The first chunk of the Remain trailer seems like one of those cozy warm rom-coms you watch with your significant other, on the couch under some warm blankies. Tate has bought a new game for he and Wren to play, which they do, laughing and smiling. It shows them cooking and eating dinner together, then playing chess against one another. We see a whole wall of board games he’s collected. It very much feels like the classic story of Broken Sad Man meets Youthful Radiant Woman. Together they find happiness. Or something.
Then with the line “Why can’t we be together, Tate?” the M. Night Shyamalan of it all comes out to play. The Remain trailer turns otherworldly and eerie as Tate replies, “I think you know.” The tone and coloring shift completely. From Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine” comes the ominous tones you would expect of a creepy supernatural thriller. It’s after this that Tate finds a ghostly-looking Wren in the bathroom, twirling her hand in the air before levitating over to do a big bang-bang on the porcelain with her skull.
And then the trailer tells us to “TRUST THE UNKNOWN”, which is a fascinating and ominous tagline! This might not be the heartwarming Valentine’s Day film most would expect, especially with Nicholas Sparks’ involvement. However, it does look like a compelling supernatural mystery with elements of horror and romance abounding. Themes of loss and grief that are likely to resonate with viewers.