Knock at the Cabin

Would you sacrifice a member of your family to save the world? That’s the very simple but gripping premise of the latest film from M. Night Shyamalan: Knock at the Cabin.

Based on the similarly named novel The Cabin at the End of the World, this film doesn’t have any pretence in going above or beyond that set up – four strangers interrupt a blissful family holiday to deliver that exact ultimatum, leaving Jonathan Groff’s Eric, Ben Aldridge’s Andrew and their seven year old daughter to decide first of all whether it’s true, and then what to do about it.

It’s a thrilling set up and a fairly thrilling film, delivering some edge of your seat stuff as the audience comes to terms with this reality at the same speed. Choice cutaways at clever moments give greater context and backstory to the family and each gut punch moment is earned and felt.

Beyond that though there isn’t much replay value here, [slight spoiler] Shyamalan doesn’t deliver one of his textbook rug pulls and, whilst the plentiful close ups and occasional one-shots and camera spins do well to raise the tension, it doesn’t really offer much by way of true surprise or revelation.

The performances are universally excellent, Groff and Aldridge are pitch-perfect as they come to terms with their situation but Dave Bautista is perhaps the standout, given more depth here than we’ve seen previously and playing the leader of the invading group with surprising tenderness and empathy.

Overall, it's a solid weekend watch but sadly not a truly memorable one and it can’t compete with the Shyamalan classics.

3 stars ***