A Mediocre M. Night Film

Knock at the Cabin, starring Dave Bautista, is a disappointing M. Night Shyamalan.

Knock Knock. Who's There?

Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, and Ben Aldridge. M. Night is one of the more unique directors in cinema, primarily known for his original, plot-twisting movies. However, this film falls well short of the expectations placed upon his films.

Story

The storyline follows a gay couple and their adopted daughter spending their vacation in a log cabin in the woods. They are shortly interrupted by four strangers who break into their cabin and tie them up. They say that this family has been chosen and that they need to sacrifice someone to prevent the apocalypse. The rest of the story follows the tough decision they contemplate and the sacrifice they make. The story is definitely unique, but the overall execution is subpar. The film's start is very suspenseful, and M. Night does a fantastic job of keeping the audience on edge. However, as the film progresses, it gets a little repetitive, and the ending is very disappointing. There is no big reveal or mind-bending twist as one would expect from Shyamalan, but a rather dull ending.

Acting

The acting is the best part of the entire film, as Bautista, Groff, and Aldridge deliver fantastic, captivating performances. The cinematography is solid but relatively basic; there are no mind-blowing scenes. It’s a little confusing to imagine what exactly M. Night’s goal for the film was. The first act was directed quite well, but it seems like he gave up on the latter parts of the movie. There’s nothing exceptional about the film; it’s just 100 minutes of suspense and questionable plot choices.

Closing Critiques

Now the most important question: Is it worth watching? Perhaps if you’re looking to kill time with some friends, it may be worth it. However, anyone looking for a great film should avoid Knock at the Cabin. While it contains solid acting performances, it’s riddled with plot deficiencies and poorly executed scenes.

Raving Rating: 5.9