Hole up in a secluded cabin with an air of suspense that'll leave you gripping your seat
With some resemblance to Shyamalan's earlier work, "Signs," and leaning more towards "The Rapture," this film brings a chilling twist to the notion of the end of the world. Michael Tolkien's unnerving exploration of the apocalypse in 1991 takes a backseat to this thrilling tale.
Following a quick dive into the narrative, the story unfolds with seven-year-old Win (Christine Choi) and her adoptive fathers, Eric and Andrew (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge), in a remote cabin for a getaway. Four intruders arrive, warning them of hard choices and terrifying decisions. Their leader, the imposing Leonard (Dave Bautista from "Guardians of the Galaxy"), demands that the trio sacrifice one family member to save the rest of humanity. Should they fail to comply, everyone else on Earth will perish.
Convincing as they try, Leonard and his crew recognize the absurdity of their proposition. They resort to showing evidence in the form of a tragic event – which they call a plague – every time Eric and Andrew resist their demands. However, Andrew, with reasonable doubts, sees the four strangers as individuals who joined a cult bent on an apocalyptic madness.
Shyamalan, having split the screenplay with Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, masterfully employs flashbacks to delve into the shared past of Eric and Andrew, from their encounter with their adoptive parents to coping with prejudice. Shyamalan begins the story with a series of artistic freedoms, which enkindles a lingering level of suspicion that Andrew notices and points to hidden hostility beneath this peculiar scenario (As a side note, this week's "The Last of Us" on HBO presents yet another portrayal of a loving gay couple in a genre not typically progressive).
Fortunately, the film's length, barely reaching the 100-minute mark, avoids overstaying its welcome. Subtler performances from Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Queen, and Rupert Grint persistently heighten the mounting tension. Additionally, Hadis Steffansdottir's powerful soundtrack further intensifies the atmosphere.
After enjoying substantial success with "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" early in his career, Shyamalan's inevitable decline may have been inevitable. However, recently, he has displayed a creative resurgence, even venturing into television. Along this path, from "Knock Knock" to "Split" and "Glass," Shyamalan's recent difficult decisions have generally translated to better results.
"Knockin' on the Cabin" hits theaters February 3. Rated R in the US.
