Director(s): M. Night Shyamalan
Writer(s): M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman (screenplay by), Paul Tremblay (based on the book “The Cabin at the End of the World” by)
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint
Runtime: 1h 40m
Rating: R
Our Rating: ★★★½

My love–hate relationship with M. Night Shyamalan’s work goes all the way back to 1999, like most everyone else I was so impressed with ‘The Sixth Sense’, and I will not even pretend that I was one of those people who figured out the twist. I did not know Haley and Bruce’s secret until the very end. Loved it. Then came ‘Unbreakable’, Signs, The Village all of which although I liked these films, I was steadily becoming less impressed, entertained – yes, impressed no – there were things in each of these narratives that did not make sense or left plot left holes that irked me.

Then came Lady in the Water, a cinematically gorgeous film, but so unsatisfying as a story even though it was trying to be a novel visualized. It did not succeed, and Paul Giamatti could not save it. Now for the hate, The Happening, The Last Airbender, After Earth, Old, just SIGH. But there were little spots of you know what M. Knight this ain’t bad, like The Visit, Spilt, Glass and the first season of “Wayward Pines”, and “Servant” (for me I stopped watching in season two because like everything, the story got convoluted and too much work for me to keep up with).

This brings me to the titled work Knock at the Cabin. I saw the trailer and was intrigued and then I saw M. Night Shyamalan’s name and I have to admit to being biased. But, I saw Dave Bautista, whom I am a fan, so I thought why not? Having bored y’all with all that here it comes, my unasked for opinion on this film.

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

There are definitely parts of this film that I really liked. All of the actors are great here and engaging. The hat tip performances go the Bautista and newcomer, Kristen Cui. In the film she’s eight, and she is so good. Cui manages to emote and engage the hell out us viewers. You will find yourself really hoping when it is all said and done she survives at all costs.

Bautista once again separates himself from that other wrestler turned “actor”, in another performance. Bautista has managed to step outside of the action star which I’m sure that was what Hollywood was preparing him to be. Instead he is becoming a great character actor, embodying whatever the role requires. In this he is a large nerd, on a terrible mission. Bautista’s character, Leonard, manages to be soft-spoken and intimidating all at once. He is also the most sympathetic of all the characters.

Spoiler Alert: Turn back now if you do not want spoilers – save yourself.

There are a few things with the story that go unresolved. The Rupert Grint backstory was supposed to be a red herring for us, but then it was left on the table. I am also unsure why we are shown Andrew’s parents in the film in a flashback.

Overall, Knock at the Cabin is truly one of the better films from Shyamalan. But, there are parts where he offered more plot points and then left them lingering without a purpose. The “twist” also did not really twist and was a bit underwhelming for me. I guess I should read the book, and then maybe some of his choices will make sense.

HorrorFatale says See It, when it streams.

Knock at the Cabin is currently in theaters.