Rent Knock at the Cabin on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Paul Tremblay (based on the book "The Cabin at the End of the World" written by), M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman (screenplay by)
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Rupert Grint
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.
Verdict
It's entertaining enough as we wonder whether the apocalypse is coming, this is some kind of ruse, or whether the strangers are crazy. It's that guessing that keeps this movie going. The pacing provides the viewer enough time to wonder what they would do in that scenario. If you're hoping for a definitive ending that explains how this works, this isn't going to provide it. The movie is focused on the drama between the characters.
It depends.
Review
This starts with a child in the woods catching grasshoppers when Leonard (Dave Bautista) walks up. He's an imposing guy due to his size as well as the don't talk to strangers undertone. He seems gentle and even nice, but you know there's more to it.
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| Abby Quinn, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint, Dave Bautista play Adriane, Sabrina, Redmond, Leonard |
The crux of the movie is Leonard and his associates telling a family they must make a sacrifice to save the world. It sounds ridiculous and the family is indeed incredulous. How can they have any bearing on the fate of the world? Leonard tries to prove to the family that his claims are real, but the family like us the viewer are trying to pick it apart. This can't be real.
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| Ben Alridge, Kristen Cui, Jonathan Groff play Andrew, Wen, Eric |
Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) start off distrustful since Leonard and the others broke into their house and subdued them. While Leonard tells them he has a job, it sounds crazy. Eric seems like he's beginning to believe them, but he's also suffering from a concussion. Leonard tries to convince them as Eric and Andrew never stop trying to escape.
Surely Leonard is crazy, but what if he's not. For all the evidence that he's delusional, there's also a counterpoint that the world indeed may be ending. Leonard and the others also go to great lengths to be nice and helpful given the circumstances. They definitely aren't there to harm the family directly.
This is a small drama that focuses on the characters while we're confined to a cabin. Through the confusion and questions we're left to determine whether the conviction the intruders feel is justified. It's a tense, claustrophobic thriller. The focus is on the drama, and at the conclusion the movie doesn't explain the how of Leonard's visions or what power this family possesses to change the fate of the world at all.
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