Night Shyamalan’s newest film, Knock at the Cabin, is a mind-bending, exhilarating trip that lives up to his reputation for plot twists. This movie is based on the novel, The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay, in which a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who claim that the family must choose to sacrifice one of them in order to prevent the apocalypse. While the family tries to protect one another and remain level-headed, they begin to question their own logic as the strangers beg them to decide as soon as possible.

Not only is this film suspenseful and shocking, but it also explores intense themes such as the violent but empathetic nature of humanity, homophobia, and the value of family. Knock at the Cabin provides intelligent social commentary that is smoothly incorporated into its plot, creating an intellectually stimulating film that will leave you thinking about it for weeks. Additionally, the cast of excellent actors immerse the audience into this intense plot through natural behavior that realistically portrays how the average person would react to the pain and violence in their situation. Unlike other suspense films, Knock at the Cabin provokes a wide range of emotions such as grief, true fear, empathy, and happiness rather than just excitement.  

In addition to this film’s impressive writing and acting, Knock at the Cabin is artfully filmed. Shyamalan purposefully uses lighting, angles, and color coordination to establish a perfectly fitting atmosphere for each scene that emphasizes the emotions he intends to elicit in his audience. Plus, this movie includes many gory scenes that feature both meticulous visual effects and sound design to further contribute to the realism of the plot and force Shyamalan’s audience to face the appalling reality of violence that is so often glamorized in apocalyptic horror films. 

Although Knock at the Cabin’s violent and intense plot may be overwhelming for some, I highly recommend this film. It was a thought-provoking experience, and I am looking forward to watching it again to appreciate Shyamalan’s attention to detail and analyze the deeper meanings hidden in the film. If you’re bored of predictable movies with trivial plots and you’re craving stimulation, Knock at the Cabin is a fantastic film to rouse your mind.