The Sunday Mail
Film Review
Tinashe Kusema
I HAVE made it a rule of thumb that once I decide to watch a movie, I do so to the very end.
And I have managed to stay true to my word, even when going through not so inspiring flicks like “Meet Joe Black”, “Australia” and most recently “Matrix Revolutions”.
However, never has my willpower been tested as it was when I decided to watch “Knock at the Cabin”, the latest psychological thriller/ horror by M. Night Shyamalan. Let me start this week’s review with a little confession. Over the last couple of months, I have engaged in a little debate with a few fellow movie buffs regarding the best pro-wrestler-turned- actor.
My ranking is as follows: Hulk Hogan, Dave Bautista, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and then John Cena right at the top.
Granted, there are countless other wrestlers who have tried their luck at the whole acting gig, but these are arguably the most famous.
Also, there are those who still hold and rank Bautista and Johnson very highly.
However, take away Bautista’s shot as Drax “The Destroyer” and Johnson’s box office appeal, and the only man left standing is Cena.
But I digress.
“Knock at the Cabin” is not the most original screenplay, as “Cabin in the Woods” has a similar premise.
The film follows a family of three who decide to take a holiday at a cabin in the woods when they are approached by four strangers who make what, at best, is an unconventional request.
The four — Leonard Brocht (Bautista), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Adriane (Abby Quinn) and Redmond (Rupert Grint) — reveal that they are strangers brought together by the same vision they have been having for a couple of months.
The vision reveals to them that the world is about to end and only a sacrifice by one of the members of the family will save it. For each hour that goes by between meeting the family and one of them sacrificing themselves, a plague will be unleashed in the world. With Bautista presumably the face and marketing tool of the film, the 54-year-old puts up a lifeless performance and is apparently outshone by young actress Kristen Cui.
The way Cui plays the Wen character, the youngest member of the family in question, is arguably one of the better performances in the film. In a movie where violence is downplayed, Cui’s presence brought up the stakes. Cui comes off as both innocent and totally likeable.
It helps that she is nine years old, but that is neither here nor there. Another bright spot of this psychological thriller is the more potent question it poses: Would you kill yourself if it meant saving the world?
But wait, there is a catch. There is no guarantee that your death would actually save the world or that said imminent doom is actually real. Here, I think writers Shyamalan, Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman did an excellent job.
Bautista’s Leonard Brocht and his three cohorts do not do a good job of selling their message or apocalyptic vision.
In fact, they look and sound rather insane up to the end. And, the twist, rather than any of the stars and performances of the movie, should actually be the movie’s biggest selling point.
Granted, it is not on the level of great twists like in “Sixth Sense”, “Fight Club” or “Usual Suspects”, but it is a good one. If you find my little subtle but creative twist in this instalment entertaining, then give this movie a chance.
Twitter: @nashaar.
