Film Review: "Knock At The Cabin"

        M. Night Shyamalan is arguably one of the most divisive filmmakers working today. His films are always met with interesting responses due to wild third-act twists. There are good twists like Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, then bad twists like The Happening and Old. Every film is a gamble that Shyamalan hopes will pay off for audiences. His newest film, Knock At The Cabin, is another gamble the filmmaker is hoping will succeed. 

Based on the book The Cabin At The End of The World, the film follows a couple (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge) vacationing in a cabin with their daughter (Kristen Cui).  Once four mysterious strangers (Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Abby Quinn) arrive, the family faces an impossible choice to prevent the apocalypse. That silly-sounding premise could be enough for some to not waste their time. Knock at The Cabin is the bleakest and darkest film Shyamalan has ever directed. 

Before going any further, slight spoilers are ahead to temper your expectations. Do not expect your typical third-act twist. The film has the most straightforward narrative out of Shyamalan’s entire filmography. Not having that third-act twist is the film's biggest strength and could simultaneously be its detriment for some. Those expecting a typical surprise ending will leave the theater feeling sorely disappointed. Without a twist,  Shyamalan has a chance to focus on characters over surprises.

The entire cast delivers solid performances that help to elevate the material. Each role is able to show glimmers of humanity, through the dark moral dilemmas represented. Two performances, in particular, stand out in this tightly-paced thriller.  Dave Bautista delivers the best performance of his career as the leader of the invaders.  His character Leonard rides a difficult line between charm and menace.  Bautista is so engaging in this role because you can never predict what he will do or say next. You are immediately transfixed by him with his introductory scene with Kristen Cui. His massive size puts you in a state of unease, but his the character's sweetness is disarming. This introductory scene sets a perfect stage for what is to come.

Bautista certainly has a menace, but Cui has the toughest job to accomplish in the film. She has to be the eyes of the audience in this harrowing situation, and not just a “precocious kid.” It is a difficult line to walk, but she succeeds with surprising ease over the running time. Both characters represent hope and despair in ways that have never been tackled by Shyamalan before. Both performances show just how effective he is at working with his actors. Instead of trying to shock audiences, his goal is to emotionally invest us in the fate of these characters.

This film is most definitely going to pulverize viewers, especially the diehard fans of M. Night.  Knock At The Cabin’s best narrative strengths will be considered weaknesses by most of his diehard fans. Those looking for shocking violence and plot twists will be disappointed by the focus on character. This shift in what Shyamalan is known for is successful thanks to the films brisk 100-minute running time and being an adaptation of a novel. Being tightly paced will still leave audiences thinking long after the credits role.

Knock At The Cabin is an entirely different film than I expected. While the story has apocalyptic stakes, the messages for viewers to take away are much different. The story forces us to ask the question, "What would you be willing to do for those you love?" Asking such a heavy philosophical question is something that I never expected to have from a Shyamalan film. Their great performances helped me to forget about my typical expectations for one of his films. Knock At The Cabin won't be for everyone, but delivers a very unique and different experience than the trailer suggests.