Movie Review: Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Knock at the Cabin (2023) co-written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan

In this twist on a home-invasion thriller, the group of home invaders, led by Leonard (Dave Bautista), do want something horrible to happen to the family staying at a remote cabin. They come with strange, hand-crafted weapons and a very strange story about visions that they have had. The family's horrible choice will avert the end of the world, the invaders insist. The family naturally thinks this group is crazy and resist (especially as the two adult are a gay couple and first think they are being targeted for that), though as in other Shyamalan movies, there's a lot more going on.

Also like other Shyamalan movies, the less you know about the plot and mechanics going in, the more enjoyable the experience is. The tension is good as the viewers struggle along with the family to understand what is going on. How much of the strangers' story is contrivance or error and how much is real? This movie, like other recent Shyamalan flicks, is less optimistic than his early works, which left me a little unsatisfied. The cast does a good job, especially Rupert Grint (Ron from Harry Potter films) as one of the invaders. Kristen Cui plays Wen, the adopted daughter, is also very good. 

Mildly recommended, Shyamalan fans will get their fix.