Danielle’s review published on Letterboxd:
Honey I Shrunk The Watchlist! 2023 Challenge
Challenge #34- Watch a film you’re excited to watch from this year
https://boxd.it/jA8i2
M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin is a biblical horror that’s captivating. Thanks to a shockingly good performance from Dave Bautista, dynamic camera work and an unpredictable screenplay Knock at the Cabin is on the good side of Shyamalan’s rocky filmography.
When I think of the three wrestlers (Dwayne Johnson, John Cena and Bautista), I think Bautista is the best. I can’t stand Johnson and Cena is hilarious in Peacemaker but Bautista proves he can do comedy and drama here. The cast of Knock at the Cabin is solid but Bautista stands out with him being calm and chilling yet sympathetic. Bautista speaks slowly and surely and that combined with the matter of fact dialogue just makes him the most compelling one to watch. Really impressed.
Shyamalan collaborated with DPs Jarin Blaschke and Lowell A. Meyer on the film. Blaschke who has worked with Robert Eggers on all of his films is quite a talent behind the camera and Knock at the Cabin has some great shots. I really liked the tightly framed POV shots. Besides being able to better read emotions it’s just visually appealing composition wise. I also liked the off-center shots. Knock at the Cabin is well-filmed.
I had no idea how this film was going to end and that anticipation kept me locked in throughout. I did find the ending a bit underwhelming but still a good film overall.
The bit with the planes was excellent. Creative doomsday stuff I’ve never seen in film.
The most straightforward film of M. Night’s career.
