01 Feb Knock at the Cabin Review

KNOCK AT THE CABIN

dir. M. Night Shyamalan, starring Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge

Knock at the Cabin, an adaptation of Paul Tremblay’s 2018 award winning novel The Cabin at the End of the World, is a psychological horror that heralds a true return for director M. Night Shyamalan. While taking a holiday at a remote cabin in the woods, a young girl named Wen and her two fathers are invaded by four armed people who demand they make an impossible decision to avert the oncoming apocalypse. With no access to the outside world beyond a television controlled by the assailants, the young girl and her parents have to decide if these invaders are telling the truth before everything dies.

Knock at the Cabin is a phenomenal movie. Thanks to the script, co-written by M. Night along with Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, the thriller is a taut, fast moving story that rarely gives the audience a chance to stop for air. There’s a bleakness and dourness that hangs over the story; even the moments of joy told in flashbacks are tainted with the foreknowledge of the horrors that await our main characters. With a premise that forces two men to have to make an unspeakable choice that could decide the fate of humanity, moviegoers are forced to place themselves in the shoes of our two protagonists and evaluate what decisions they’d make. That our couple, Eric and Andrew, are a gay couple initially seems of little consequence (which is how it should be), this point pays its dividends in the film’s third act to a powerful effect. The question of who these four intruders are, their purpose in interfering with this tiny nuclear family, and the mystery behind it all make for a compelling watch that is pure M. Night Shayamalan in all the best possible ways.

Starring Dave Bautista, Knock at the Cabin proves that the big man is ready for more leading roles. Coming from the world of professional wrestling, where acting skills are set on the back burner for shiny muscles and flashy moves, it seemed unlikely the 6-foot-4, 289-pound behemoth would be able to make a successful transition to Hollywood. Many have tried, very few have succeeded; however, it’s Bautista’s passion for the craft that has set him apart from others of his ilk. Eschewing the muscular leading man roles his contemporaries are known for, he has carved out a different lane for himself, choosing instead to build his craft while working with the notable filmmakers of our time. The result has been the blossoming of a talented actor, able to play both external and internal roles with a surprising amount of grace and humility. That grace and ability to play soft spoken, thoughtful characters is exemplified here; as the leader of the four intruders, Bautista has the most screen time and presence. It’s his subtle changes and shifts in attitude as the movie carries that shows just how bright a talent he can be when paired with the right director and material. His voice barely raises above a whisper throughout the entirety of the film and the magnitude of just how small a man of that stature can play a character is staggering.

Aside from Bautista, the clear standout of the film is Ben Aldridge as Andrew, one of Wen’s fathers. Calm on the surface with an ore of anger running underneath, it’s Andrew’s anger at the situation that propels Aldridge’s performance. As the character most effected by the events of the film, Aldridge is more than up to the challenge, delivering a character that anyone with a heart can sympathize for. There’s a ferocity and intensity to this performance that’s startlingly vicious at times, and it’s those moments where Aldrige is swinging for the fences. In contrast, Jonathan Groff, last seen on screen as the smarmiest boss ever in Matrix: Resurrections, is the gentler and more docile of the two. While certain events in the film lead to this more subdued nature, Groff is still terrific as the yin to Aldridge’s yang. If Andrew is fire, then Eric is water, staying level headed throughout the film and the audience’s entryway into the question that looms over the whole story: “what if?”

Returning to the director’s chair is M. Night Shyamalan after 2021’s Old. While Shyamalan’s filmography may be hit-and-miss with some, it can’t be denied that he’s always been a filmmaker with a clear vision. With Knock at the Cabin, Shymalan makes the most out of his modest $20 million budget, crafting an intimate story set amidst the grander scope of the oncoming apocalypse. M. Night hasn’t been this confident and in control of his abilities since Split, delivering an atmospheric thriller that drips with cynicism and despondency. Aside from directing the actors to some of their best performances, M. Night’s ability to convey the four visitors’ frenzied pleas is where the movie shines the best. Right at 100 minutes, the ride stars immediately and Shyamalan doesn’t let up until the final minutes.

Overall, Knock at the Cabin shows M. Night still has gas left in the tank. Wonderfully directed, excellently paced, and smartly acted, this movie is firing on all cylinders. A great apocalyptic thriller that will have the audience consistently questioning who they believe and who’s side they’re on makes this a phones down experience that will leave moviegoers thinking about it long after the credits. Bautista, Groff, and Aldridge make for a fine leading trio while the supporting cast convey a level of desperation that makes the tension palpable. A bleak and unrelenting movie, it highlights the best aspects of Shyamalan as a filmmaker and will go a long way to reminding viewers why they fell in love with his movies in the first place. Knock at the Cabin hits theaters February 3rd.

Review by Darryl Mansel