Knock harder next time

Shyamalan’s New film falls flat in thrill

By: Cassandra McCoy

Apocalypse. Sacrifice. One family. One cabin. Just how good is the newest apocalyptic thriller?

Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, just released to the big screen on Feb. 3, 2023, and has already created a large hype for itself. It is based off of the original novel, The Cabin at the End of The World, published by author Paul Tremblay. The movie was definitely a mystery, and whether or not it really rattled any bones, the overall plot was the best thing about it.

It begins in a sunny meadow with an adorable 8-year-old girl (Kristen Cui) catching grasshoppers outside of her cabin. She is approached by a very large man (Dave Bautista) who, besides the exterior appearance, is a big softie. He explains that her family must make a decision, and open the door for him and his friends, (friends that are currently heading toward them with various sharp weapons), so that they can have a talk. Because the child was still considerably aware, she ran away and called for her parents, who were about to be faced with a huge predicament. This family was apparently the key to saving the world.

When you watch thriller movies and big mysteries, you usually expect a huge plot twist and some extravagant crazy ending that you never saw coming. But, what about having an inkling that you knew what was going to happen from the start? Shyamalan is more of a technical and logical director rather than one who implements a huge twist or plot change. It’s a difficult idea to grasp for some, but in many ways this technique really helped you to feel the movie. Shyamalan most recently directed Old released in 2021, which was another murderous thriller. In that film, you knew what was going on, but you had no idea why. You probably still have no idea why. That is the kind of director Shyamalan is, always leaving it up to you to figure out. It can be exhausting if it’s just too confusing, though, which is kind of how that film turned out. Shyamalan did a better job of creating a little less confusion in this film, but that doesn’t say there isn’t any confusion at all. The despair and the yearning for the world to be saved was close to heartwrenching, so you’d most likely appreciate the casting. The main character of this movie, Leonard was played by Dave Bautista who most recently played in Glass Onion; A Knives Out Mystery, which coincidentally was another thriller role, but nothing like this one. This movie held every tone except for humorous; it was anxious, terrifying, stressful and yet angry. Wen’s parents, Andrew and Eric, had adopted her and their family was complete - the same family that was captured for the supposed sake of humanity. It’s not an edge-of-your-seat kind of movie, but it was intriguing. The actors did an enticing job at creating a stressful atmosphere. There are elements of sacrifice in the film and natural disasters that may lead to an end-ofthe-worldphenomenon.

The cinematography helped this tense atmosphere heighten by capturing uncomfortable shots of the actors and their emotions.

The film was somewhat lacking in the soundtrack; there aren’t any memorable songs from the movie, but it was most likely this way because the atmosphere was silent yet holding high tension - so lyric-less tracks fit the film more appropriately.

Many people don’t understand predictability. This movie was predictable on purpose, and while it was an admirable aspect, it made it forgettable. Overall it was a good theater experience. The acting was compelling, the shooting angles gave a good uncomfortable feeling, and at times just a little jaw dropping, but not that crazy. Despite these positives, the film wouldn’t be considered a rewatch. It’s not a waste of time by any means, and if apocalypse movies are your thing then for sure; yet it just isn’t something you’d be compelled to watch a second time, most likely. So, you may watch it or you may not; either way, a good movie theater experience is never forgettable so if you do go, don’t forget the popcorn to keep you company. If you don’t see it, you’re not really missing out on anything.

Rating: 6/10