Knock at the Cabin – What, No Doorbell?

Knock Knock!

Who’s there?

M Night.

M Night who?

M Night Shyamalan, you silly goose. Now let me in, I have a movie to make!

M Night really gives his all. He showcases an unprecedented level of tension and intrigue, and on top of that controls the camera like never before.

Knock at the Cabin is the story of a small family of three who, while vacationing in a secluded cabin, are trapped by fours strangers and forced to make a brutal choice. It is a very self-contained thriller, taking place almost exclusively inside of the cabin. I loved it.

From minute one, the tension is through the roof as Wen, a seven year old girl playing by herself in the woods, is approached by a hulking stranger, Leonard, played by Dave Bautista. Everything from their size difference to how he speaks to her gives off a certain level of unease that never leaves you, even after the credits roll.

The acting is amazing, all around. There are really only seven characters – the three family members and the four intruders – but they all are fully fledged and layered.

By far and away, my favorite aspect of this film was the cinematography. Shyamalan’s framing and camera movements are sublime and serve to tell the story more than any of his other films. The shots flow together so smoothly and I was even able to guess the ending based on the framing of a particular shot.

This review is going to be nearly impossible to write without spoiling the premise. If you don’t want that, skip ahead to my Rankings at the bottom of the page. This is your official warning.

The intruders present a choice to the family. They must sacrifice one of them, or the world will end. The film goes to extreme lengths to put you in the shoes of the family, doubting the intruders and praying they will be able to escape the ensuing madness. The longer the film goes on, the more you believe the crazed ramblings and fall into madness and paranoia with the family. It is masterfully well done.

The movie is not perfect. There’s some bad greenscreen toward the end. Some of the dialogue could definitely be improved. The story probably could’ve been improved. However, these are simply nitpicks. As a whole, this is one of Shyamalan’s strongest films. He is able to paint a portrait of humanity with multiple shades, embodying what it means to love and be loved.

Shyamalan Rankings:

Needless to say, this was great. So, without further ado, my completed M Night Shyamalan filmography rankings.

1. Signs
2. The Sixth Sense
3. Knock at the Cabin
4. Unbreakable
5. The Village
6. The Visit
7. Split
8. Wide Awake
9. Glass
10. The Happening
11. Old
12. Lady in the Water
13. After Earth
14. Praying with Anger
15. The Last Airbender

I will, of course, update this when his next film, Trap, is released. Until then…

Next week:

Now, for the matter of what’s next. I’ve decided to wait one week before starting my next director. However, next week I am going to be bringing you my version of the Oscars, specifically for Shyamalan. It will be a celebration of his career, his films, and his legacy.

The Shyammies!

Categories may include:

Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Child Actor, Best Writing, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Director Cameo… and more!

Drop your predictions in the comments below!