The end is near

KNOCK AT THE CABIN (M)

BY ALEX FIRST

Wen (Kristen Cui) is nearly eight years of age – a bright young girl collecting grasshoppers in a large jar so she can study them.

She’s special because she was adopted by her two dads – Andrew (Ben Aldridge) and Eric (Jonathan Groff) – when she was only a baby.

Now they’ve all travelled to a remote log cabin in the Pennsylvania woods for a holiday.

It is there that Wen is confronted by a giant of a man, Leonard (Dave Bautista), who says he wants to be her friend.

In no time, he is telling her that his heart is broken because of what he must do, which he claims is the most important job in world history.

That amounts to holding Wen and her parents hostage and prevailing upon them to make an unthinkable choice to avert Armageddon.

Leonard is not alone. He is joined by three others – angry gas worker, Redmond (Rupert Grint), cook Adriane (Abby Quinn) and nurse Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird). The group has with them hand crafted weapons.

Every time Andrew and Eric say “no”, the collective maintains that a calamity will befall the Earth.

And to prove it, when the couple does so the first time the armed strangers turn on the TV to the news that an earthquake and resultant tsunami have wreaked devastation.

The consequences grow exponentially for each subsequent rejection.

All the while the interlopers maintain they were compelled to do what they are doing in a bid to save the planet.

That is not surprising, given it has been written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on his own acclaimed 2012 play of the same name.

Academy Award nominated director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) has woven a substantive tale, in which the gradual reveals help build the full picture.

The title refers to an essay about Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick that Ellie wrote and could cruelly refer to Charlie’s size.

The film benefits enormously from a series of stellar and memorable performances from the small cast.

They are headlined by Brendan Fraser as you have never seen him.

It is an Oscar-worthy turn, complete with breathlessness and physical impairment.

In this case, in equal measure she brings desperation, anger, love, understanding and acceptance to her persona.

For his part, Ty Simpkins readily channels the dichotomy that is the hallmark of the Christian zealot with a skeleton or two in the closet.

The intense character focus in cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s lens also greatly benefits the production.

It is as if we are eyeing off windows to their souls.

The Whale is a film of rare quality that worked its way into my psyche as only the finest offerings can.

It is “must see” material that deserves to be heavily feted in the upcoming awards’ season.

Rated M, it scores a 9 out of 10.

For quite some time, we – the audience – can only guess at just what is going down here.

All we know is that it is mysterious and scary.

Knock at the Cabin is an intriguing psychological thriller.

Newcomer Kristen Cui does a fine job as the wide eyed innocent. She combines vulnerability with resilience and strength.

I also liked the characterisations of the two dads.

Ben Aldridge channels outrage as human rights attorney Andrew, who has a temper and uses it. As Eric, Jonathan Groff projects a softer and more nurturing image.

Dave Bautista impresses by deliberately softening his tough guy persona. He realises Leonard as a man driven by circumstances to pursue the path he is on.

With a screenplay by director M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, Knock at the Cabin is based on Paul Tremblay’s book The Cabin at the End of the World. The chilling music over the opening credits is a portent of what is to come.

This is a home invasion with a decided difference.

In fact, early on we learn a little of the backgrounds of each of the adversaries, their diverse backgrounds and personalities.

M. Night Shyamalan has layered the offering to ensure the screws are tightened, turn after inevitable turn.

The result is an engaging and chilling tale.

Rated M, Knock at the Cabin scores a 7½ out of 10.