Knock At The Cabin
review by Bobby Blakey
Over the years director M. Night Shyamalan has had ups and downs with his unique visions. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed more than not despite what some might have felt. His return to form for me came with the unexpected return to the Unbreakable universe with the completed trilogy with Split and Glass. His latest film Knock At The Cabin features a great cast including Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint. Could this film actually bring some intense mystery or will it be a knock not worth answering?
Heading into this film I had an idea of where it might be going and I was right on some level, but it wasn’t near as violent or creepy as I thought. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as it dives right in and is pretty compelling throughout as you try and figure out what is real, what is not and where it is all heading. It’s not overly hard to put it all together, but knowing the truth is where it makes you question.
It wastes no time getting to the point with an interaction between Bautista and Cui. It is an uncomfortable and unnerving situation since you have no idea where it is going and Buatista is way too nice. This is just the
beginning of it all and as things amp up it gets the mystery going deeper into this insanity. Carrying it all is Dave Bautista in one of if not his best acting performance to date. He brings his imposing presence to a role that is someone set on his beliefs, but weirdly likeable, polite, sensitive and endearing. He is almost too nice and in turn makes it creepy.
The rest of the cast are good as well with us getting to see Ruper Grint stepping away from his Harry Potter roots and bringing something more sinister and angry to the film. Through it all there is a verbal back and forth between the believers and the non-believers as they try to make sense of it all. It is a slow burn with not a lot of excitement, but the clever writing and interesting characters kept me interested from beginning to end.
This is one of Shyamalan films that won’t work for everyone and some may not like where it goes, but I really dug it. There are some strange decision choices, but as I sat and thought about it some of these moments are explained away through random dialogue. It is likely not what most are expecting or wanting so I can see it totally not delivering for some, but I was all in and really loved where it went.
In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including deleted scenes and numerous featurettes taking you behind bringing this film to life. Grab your copy when Knock At The Cabin Door available now digital and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on May 9th from Universal Home Entertainment.