Ending keeps movie from being great

By George Gust

“Knock at the Cabin” is the M. Night Shyamalan adaptation of the 2018 novel “A Cabin at the End of the World.” The film follows a young family (Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge and Kristen Cui) who while vacationing are taken hostage by armed strangers (Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Abby Quinn) These strangers demand that the family make a sacrifice to avoid the impending apocalypse.

Few directors have garnered as much love and hate in the past decades as Shyamalan. With the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, it seems as though his films are Rorschach tests for the filmgoing audience of the time. Where some people see a return to the filmmaker who made the cultural phenomenon “The Sixth Sense” others may see another try-hard flop maker who made “The Happening.” “Knock at the Cabin” neither reaches the heights of Shyamalan at his best nor stoops as low as his more maligned films, but instead feels like a well-crafted horror/suspense that ultimately doesn’t make much of a lasting impression.

“A Knock at the Cabin” shines most through the engaging and unsettling performances given the over-the-top circumstances. Highlighted most by the performance of professional wrestler turned surprisingly consistent character actor in Bautista. His menacing performance is not only derived from his imposing physical presence, but instead stems from his innocent intensity of a man who truly believes his outlandish claims and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. The rest of the cast also turns in committed performances, however in service of a story that ends up losing steam as it hurdles towards the finish.

With Shyamalan’s work, much of the memory of his films’ rests with its endings and more specifically the twist. This standard is both a blessing and a curse for him, as even when he tries to swerve away from the audience expectations there are people who feel let down by his storytelling style. “Knock at the Cabin” is another example of this. The story begins strong with Shyamalan’s signature moody suspense style, but as the tension builds and the film begins to answer the questions set up the underlying message of story strains your suspension of disbelief and ultimate resolution falls flat.

“Knock at the Cabin” is a professionally executed horror/suspense film and has all the trappings for a exciting time at the movies, but the ghosts of Shyamalan’s twists of the past haunt this film and hold it back from being a memorable entry in the career of this polarizing filmmaker.

“Knock at the Cabin” is rated R for violence and language.

2.8 out of 5 stars

To reach George Gust for a comment on this review, please e-mail gust.george@gmail.com

Answer on Page 19

A benefit for St. Jude’s set April 28

On Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. CT, the greater Oklahoma City community and special guest, singer and songwriter, Ryan Cabrera will gather at Aspen Ranch for the fourth annual Evening of Hope, with funds raised benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Because the majority of St. Jude funding comes from generous donors, St. Jude has the freedom to focus on what matters most – saving kids regardless of their financial situation.

The event committee and co-chairs Marc Cline, Brennin Hunt, and Kelly Hunt invite the public to reserve tickets for an evening of dinner, cocktails, and powerful stories from local St. Jude patients and their families, including Faith and Marina.

Guests will also be treated to an exclusive performance by Cabrera. While best known for billboard hits such as “On the Way Down,” “True,” and “Shine On,” Cabrera also uses his talents to bring people together for a greater good.

To become a sponsor of the event, contact Ally Rodriguez at ally.rodriguez@alsac.stjude.org or 405-423-6323.

Crossword Puzzle

Coffee