Knock At The Cabin 2023 Review
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint.
Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke and Lowell A. Meyer
Music: Herdís Stefánsdóttir
Streaming: Theater
Synopsis:
A family of three is vacationing at a remote cabin, but they are suddenly held hostage by four strangers, who demand they sacrifice
one of their own to avert the apocalypse.
Knock At The Cabin 2023 Review:
The underrated M. Night Shyamalan has done it again!!! The clever director has made another smart mystery thriller that kept me
guessing & totally engrossed. I’m a big fan of Shyamalan’s films especially his last few: The Happening, The Visit & Old, which are all great little thrillers that are full of suspense & mystery. Now the director of smart stylish Mysteries is back with another knockout movie.
This one is about a loving holidaying couple with their little girl that is at a peaceful cabin in the woods. The couple is two men (yes a gay couple) & their adopted Asian girl, already Shyamalan has broken the mold & I’m glad!!! There’s lots of deep meaning to examine if wanted.
All of a sudden the cabin’s peaceful existence is threatened by four odd strangers that turn up there & tell the couple that they have been chosen to make a horrific choice in order to save the world.
The set-up is expertly handled with its very creepy & calm mood & absolute knockout performance by usual action actor DAVE BAUTISTA!!! This guy has become a truly excellent actor & not just a character actor or supporting actor but a damn good leading star.
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Dave plays the most interesting character in the film & completely plays against type. Bautista is a big hulking tattooed man that is dressed smartly & has such a calm & kind presence, Dave’s performance is excellent as Leonard, & comes across like a man pushed into a hopeless situation & that’s why he shows up at the cabin.
The whole cast is damn good, to be honest, & we get some flashbacks of what gay men go through in our nasty society & Shyamalan shows us that just because a man is gay doesn’t mean he can’t be as tough as another guy (a truly nice touch) & our couples are a decent loving family played by strong actors.
The group that basically takes over the cabin seems like a group of religious fanatics but as with Shyamalan, not everything is what it seems. I won’t say anymore because the less you know the better the impact.
Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge do a great job with easygoing chemistry and contrasting energy. However, the standout of this film is easily Dave Bautista in his best role yet with the imposing physical presence combined with his soft-spoken and gentle nature to create an uneasy combination.
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The Knock at the Cabin is classy filmmaking with an awesome score, especially the beginning of the film which feels like old school 70’s thriller. There’s definitely a ’70s paranoia feeling to this movie & a mix of the Home Invasion thriller & the doomsday genre.
M. Night Shyamalan’s direction is fantastic, the constant off-center framing and canted angles really add to the sense of unease and the dialogue isn’t as heavy-handed as it’s been in the past, even though it still over-explains a few times. The film looks beautiful with its rich cinematography & the film is a gripping suspenseful thriller that’s drenched in mystery & suspicion.
Verdict: Knock At The Cabin 2023 Review
I would easily say that this film will be looked at as one of his stronger ventures and is highly thought-provoking to the point where you’l need a second viewing. It gives the classic Shyamalan wonder and curiosity that makes him one of the most intriguing directors /storytellers of our time.
