Cert 18

****


Master of the enigma and of all things with a deadly twist, M. Night Shyamalan returns with another intriguing sci-fi mystery in his latest film Knock on The Cabin. Adapted from Paul G. Tremblay’s best selling 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World, the film presents another chance for the director of The Sixth Sense, Signs and more recently Old to showcase his unique style of filmmaking.

Knock On The Cabin revolves around a gay couple Andrew and Eric (played respectively by Ben Aldridge and Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff) and their adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui). Having booked a cabin by an idyllic lake in the wilderness, high-flying lawyer Andrew and his husband Eric are taken hostage by four people led by amiable gentle giant Leonard (Marvel favourite Dave Bautista, excellent).



Even Shyamalan’s most ardent critics will have to admit that there are very few genre filmmakers these days that are able to garner this much interest every time. And while his auteur credentials have often been met with a degree of skepticism, there is no denying that the writer-director continues to impress year after year.

In the case of Knock On The Cabin, there is very little doubt that this is the good Shyamalan we’re getting. Delivering a killer twist, while remaining very true to the original text, the director has given us easily one of his best films yet. There is so much about this story that is done subtly and without the usual fanfare that one can’t help but admire.

Bautista, Aldridge and Groff put in some truly magnificent turns as do Rupert Grint, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Abby Quinn as the members of Leonard’s ominous group of home-invaders. There is so much to like here, but perhaps the biggest thing to take away from this story is that one doesn’t need big explosions and endless superhero fight scenes to make for an interesting narrative.