The Visitor 2022

Here’s my rephrased version:

Synopsis

Robert and his wife Maia are settling into their new life in her family’s sprawling estate, inherited from her late father. As they unpack boxes and navigate the labyrinthine halls, Maia uncovers a hidden compartment containing a macabre doll that seems to whisper secrets of the past. The couple ventures out to the local watering hole, where they’re greeted with warm smiles and raised glasses by Judy, the bartender, who’s delighted to have Maia back in town. As Robert succumbs to the allure of the night, his anxiety medication starts to take its toll, leading to a drunken haze that renders him oblivious to the world around him.

As the darkness deepens, Robert is startled awake by the mournful wails of an ancient blind woman emanating from the attic above. Her eerie presence, however, proves to be merely a product of his frazzled imagination. The couple’s conversation turns to the painful subject of their miscarriage, with Maia perceiving a lingering blame in her husband’s eyes.

In the attic, Robert stumbles upon an enigmatic painting that bears a striking resemblance to himself. Maia is skeptical about its uncanny likeness, while the artwork itself seems shrouded in mystery. The title “The Visitor Accepts” only adds to the air of intrigue surrounding this mysterious relic. Meanwhile, glimpses into Robert’s troubled psyche reveal his struggles with anxiety medication and a history of erratic behavior.

As Robert navigates the town’s curious residents, he encounters the cryptic hardware store clerk who urges him to seek answers at Delacroix Art & Antiques. The cryptic note scrawled on her hand reminds him that “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” Maia’s father, recently deceased, receives a eulogy from the pastor that highlights his crushing absence.

The townspeople, however, are excessively warm towards Robert, which only exacerbates his growing unease. A visit to the antique store leads him to another painting of himself, this time titled “The Visitor Watches it Burn.” The proprietor matter-of-factly reveals that the artwork has been in her possession since she acquired the store. Her parting words, however, leave Robert feeling uneasy: he doesn’t crave truth; what he needs is to flee back to London with all haste.

As Maia hangs the first painting in their living room as a lighthearted joke, Robert’s grip on reality begins to slip. Meanwhile, at Delacroix Art & Antiques, an unexpected visitor descends upon the store – a swarm of locusts that claim the proprietor as their own.

As the dawn breaks, Maia (character name) shares with Robert that her pregnancy is a reality. The intervening months are marked by an eerie silence, punctuated only by the weight of Robert’s inner turmoil. His pastor, a man of unwavering conviction, implores Robert to surrender to the divine, sensing a reluctance in his protégé that can only be assuaged by personal experience. “You will see,” he intones, “and when you do, the truth will be inescapable.” This enigmatic visitor’s painting, “The Visitor Stakes His Claim,” hangs as a testament to Alistair Edgar, the savior of their town in days of yore. Upon returning home, Robert and Maia are greeted by an unusual array of frogs that seem to have taken up residence in their living room.

Meanwhile, Robert receives a cryptic phone call from Maxwell Braun (actor name), another art aficionado who has been delving into the mysterious world of Visitor paintings and photographs. The conversation takes a dark turn as Maxwell reveals that Robert’s likeness appears in hundreds of images, eerily corresponding to pivotal moments in history that humanity would rather forget. This revelation comes accompanied by an envelope containing a substantial sum of money, which serves as an invitation for Robert to return to London. But Maia is vehemently opposed to this notion, her resistance bordering on hysteria.

As the tension builds, Robert receives another call from Maxwell, instructing him to meet in the woods. Upon arriving at the designated location, he finds Maxwell’s lifeless body tied to a tree. The discovery sets Robert on a desperate search for Maia, only to stumble upon yet another painting of himself – this one bearing an uncanny resemblance to her father. It is then that the truth begins to unravel: Robert was once a kidnapped infant, spirited away to London in the hopes of breaking the cycle of fate.

Maia’s confiding revelations shatter Robert’s perceptions, as she discloses that his nocturnal killing sprees are merely manifestations of his role as a vessel for an ancient power. This dark legacy dates back to Alistair Edgar’s Faustian bargain in the 18th century, and even the miscarriage in London was not a mere coincidence – it was a deliberate attempt to stifle the birth of a girl, whose male offspring would be crucial to perpetuating the line of “Roberts.” As Robert succumbs to exhaustion, Maia pronounces her judgment: now that he has finally acknowledged his true nature, he can at last assume the mantle he was always meant to wear.

As the narrative unwinds to reveal the genesis of Maia and Robert’s fateful encounter in London, a jarring juxtaposition unfolds - the tender moment of their meeting is suddenly interrupted by the stark reality of childbirth. The scene is eerily reminiscent of Roman Polanski’s classic “Rosemary’s Baby,” as Maia’s labor pains give way to an otherworldly atmosphere. The entire town converges on the delivery, their faces shrouded in robes and masks, their chanting voices a primal incantation that accompanies the baby’s arrival.

With Robert’s triumphant return to his throne, the scene shifts seamlessly to reveal him once more as The Visitor - his presence imbued with an aura of power and mystique. Meanwhile, Maia’s world is irreparably altered as she awakens to find herself blinded by the same affliction that had befallen her mother before her.

As Robert drives through the town, a jubilant procession trailing in his wake, it becomes clear that this is a moment of profound celebration - a testament to the Visitors’ return and Maia’s transformation into a being forever changed by their encounter.