Movie Review: Knock At The Cabin

 

It's been years since I've seen an M. Night Shyamalan movie in the big screen, and an even longer time since I enjoyed one of his presentations. Majority of his films have focused on the supernatural, unknown, and bizarre - things that remind you of Stephen King stories or even tales from the Twilight Zone, and that is the filmmakers and actor's strength when he sets his mind to a project and executes it flawlessly.

I'm happy to say the director is back to form with his latest outing in "Knock At The Cabin" - an apocalyptic psychological horror film that is based on the 2018 novel "The Cabin at the End of the World" that was written by Paul G. Tremblay. Featuring a pretty good set of talents that includes pro-wrestler turned actor Dave Bautista and former Harry Potter series star Rupert Grint, the movie focuses on a group of strangers who gather together and take hostage a family of three vacationing in a remote cabin in the woods. There they are given a choice to make the ultimate sacrifice between the three of them to avert the apocalypse or doom the entire world if they choose not to.

Thanks to Universal Pictures PH and Warner Bros. PH, I was invited to catch a very special advanced screening of the film on Monday January 30 - and it was definitely a film that is a return to form for Shyamalan as he brings out the best of his signature directing skills when it comes to suspense and horror. This is definitely a movie that harkens back to the classic 1980's and 1990's style of horror films - where the impact comes from the storytelling and talents of the actors without much reliance on special effects and innovations that advancements in technology bring today.

Here's the trailer to the film that shows off why it's one of the best films to start off 2023.

As far execution goes, I'm very impressed and have to commend Dave Bautista on diversifying and trying out roles like these in his Hollywood career. The man has exceeded expectations beyond starting out as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and he's captivating as the lead stranger named Leonard as he tries to impart his mission and plea to the family of three - two homosexual men and their adopted daughter who make up a loving family yet are forced to try and see why they need to make a sacrifice to save the world. Despite its short run time and isolating the plot mostly to the cabin, this film is absolutely terrifying and worth the watch if you enjoy these kinds of psychological horror thrills - and you get M. Night's magic touch to boot.

Rating - 4/5

Knock At The Cabin is now showing in theaters courtesy of Universal Pictures Philippines.