Double Feature: Versus Commentary – KNOCK AT THE CABIN

The Double Feature: Versus crew takes a look at “KNOCK AT THE CABIN”

Synopsis

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

Blak’s commentary

What Richard Kelly’s “The Box” lacks in evenness, M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin” makes up for in tension. The intriguing apocalypse story (paired with a great leading performance from Dave Bautista) makes for a great, entertaining 100-minute ride. The group of performances (sans Rupert Grint) are engaging and the special effects of the disaster scenes are nothing short of thrilling. “Knock” however has its speedbumps with its misplaced flashbacks and its disappointingly “muted” gore (I thought this was rated R!). While Shyamalan still pulls a “Shyamalan” with a surprise twist towards the end, it doesn’t take away from the solid thrills and tension this lowkey horror-thriller delivers. It may not be “Great” Shyamalan, nor is it “Terrible” Shyamalan but it’s nice “mid-solid” Shyamalan.

3 out of 5

Brad’s commentary

Knock at the Cabin is the latest movie from director M. Night Shyamalan, and is one of his tamer movies in terms of twists and turns. Taking place entirely in a cabin in a remote wooded area we follow a couple Andrew and Eric who are vacationing with their daughter Wen, they are then joined by four people telling them that the end of the world is coming. In order to save the world Andrew and Eric must decide to willingly sacrifice one of their own, as new cataclysmic events start to occur around the world. The movie is a great example of how to build tension in a story, with a leading cast bringing this story to life and adding to the eeriness of the situation. While there are some bumps in the pacing that ruin the tension in spots, overall the movie has a great dilemma and makes for a great thriller overall.

3.5 / 5

Double Feature: Versus Podcast

Check out Blak and Brad’s full thoughts on KNOCK AT THE CABIN as well as THE BOX (2009) on the latest episode, available to listen to now!

Also check out Blak’s full-length written review of the film.

Double Feature VS is a podcast series in which two friends Anthony and Brad step in front of the mic and clash heads, come together, break up, and come together again on the subject of two competing films on each episode. Directorial debut vs Sophomore slump (or success), critically acclaimed vs fan-favorite, original vs sequel, blond vs ginger, ebony vs melanin, etc. The possibilities? Endless. The arguments? Futile. The debates? Epic (also humorous). The combination of audio material, written film reviews and video commentaries (all found on doublefeaturevs.com) are all part of what makes this a great new series for cinephiles, moviegoers, movie lovers and everybody in-between.