Plot: A family faces an impossible choice when four strangers show up at their cabin.
The fate of the world lies in your hands. But in order to ensure everyone's safety, you must make a sacrifice.
So, would you choose to save humanity, or would you be ready to take the deaths of many on your conscience?
KNOCK AT THE CABIN is a nail-biting thriller, and the premise alone is risky to take on. The reason this movie works is because of the actors. Without their impeccable skills, this movie could have gone downhill.
The movie is based on Paul Tremblay's THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD.
Fortunately, the ending is different in the movie because the way the novel ends is a tad depressing.
Not that the movie doesn't have some sad, heart-wrenching moments. In fact, you may just shed some tears towards the end.
KNOCK AT THE CABIN has a purpose narrative and hits the mark because of powerful performances.
KNOCK AT THE CABIN Plot
The movie begins with a scene of picturesque woods. Wen is busy collecting grasshoppers in large glass jars. She has named them and everything, and even noting down how active they are.
Just then, a large man approaches her, and Wen is considering fleeing. Despite his physical appearance, the man actually appears to be very gentle. He even goes ahead and helps capture a grasshopper for Wen.
Wen has been told by her fathers not to talk to strangers, but she is won over by this stranger who has caught a grasshopper for her. He introduces himself as Leonard, and now he is no longer a stranger.
Leonard then talks about how his heart is broken because of what he has to do today. Wen is alert when she spots three more strangers in the distance.
Now, Wen realizes her gaffe because she had gone ahead and blurted stuff about her family.
She sees the three strangers carrying weird looking weapons and decides it's time to run. She heads to the cabin and practically drags her fathers Eric and Andrew inside.
They initially think their daughter is playing a game with them, but when there is a knock at the door and Leonard speaks, they soon realize they are in deep trouble.
The other three strangers are Sabrina, Adriana, and Redmond. They start trying to break in, and Wen and her fathers try to block their entry.
They fail because Leonard has found a way from the basement, and Sabrina has just emerged out of nowhere.
Eric attacks her, and Sabrina tries to stop him. She looks regretful. Eric is hurt as he falls on the floor and hits his head.
Andrew rushes to him while Sabrina offers to take a look at him because she is a nurse.
Redmond is badly beaten up, but soon enough, the family is all tied up.
It's time for a flashback.
Eric and Andrew are seen sitting across from Andrew's parents, who are clearly not happy with their son's lifestyle choice.
They leave in disappointment, and Andrew talks about how his parents made a seven hour drive but stayed only for forty-five minutes.
Eric assures Andrew they will stay together forever.
In the present, Leonard has put up cartoons for Wen and admits he likes this show too.
Eric talks about the light hurting his eyes and Sabrina guesses he has a concussion. This she knows because she is a nurse.
The four intruders decide to introduce themselves while the family looks curiously at them and wondering why they are fixing, and cleaning their house.
Sabrina introduces herself as a nurse. Adriane says she's a line cook. Redmond works in sanitation.
Andrew has had enough and doesn't really want to get to know the uninvited guests at his cabin.
However, Leonard comes forward and introduces himself as a basketball coach. He looks nervous and rueful as he explains what he must do. He implores for the family to listen to what he has to say.
Now, clearly the four are symbolized as the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but they do bring different catastrophes that will end the world.
Leonard then explains the impossible sacrifice they must make. The family must chose to sacrifice one of them. They cannot kill themselves and the four of them would not hurt the family.
Andrew is disgusted and makes it clear that nothing of that sort will happen.
Leonard practically pleads with them that should they not make that sacrifice, the world will end.
Andrew believes the four of them are part of a cult and says that even of what they say is true, he rather the world ends than they kill one of their family member.
Redmund comes forward and says that humanity is being judged. He puts a white mask on his head and the others kill him. Why must they do this is not exactly clear.
It's time for another flashback to remind us of the love this family has for each other. This time Andrew and Eric are at an orphanage and adopting a baby Wen. Except, Eric lies about Andrew being his wife's brother.
The baby is seen with a cleft palate which explains the scar Wen has on her face. Andrew and Eric are happy to include Wen in their family.
Back at the present, Leonard drags Redmund's body outside, then puts on the TV to show what the family's lack of decision capabilities have done.
There are reports of earthquakes that cause tsunamis. Fatalities are reported and Leonard looks sad.
Eric and Andrew are still not buying it. Andrew accuses the intruders of being prejudiced against their lifestyle choices. He then remembers that Redmond was the same guy who had attacked them in a pub a long time ago. He asks Leonard to check Redmond's wallet because his name is actually Bannon.
Leonard tries to convince the family that they must make a choice now. The fathers get Wen to try and escape but she is quickly caught by Leonard who is gentle with her.
The next morning, Adriane has cooked breakfast for Wen and showing off her cooking skills. Leonard comes to plead with the fathers again to make a choice. They are still not buying it and Andrew thinks the news reports are recorded which is why Leonard keeps looking at his watch.
Adriane comes forward to tell them that each of them have had visions which brought them together. She tells them that she has a son called Charlie and that she saw catastrophe hit and her son not making it. She tells them about the screams she keeps hearing. She begs the fathers to make a choice. They say, nope.
Adriana puts on a mask and the fathers try to talk her out of it. But no choice has been made and so she is killed by the others. Leonard easily picks her up and takes her into the bedroom.
Leonard puts on the TV and this time there is a report of a deadly virus reaching epidemic stages and killing a lot of people.
Andrew still claims that they are being set up and doesn't believe the news reports. He and Eric begin to find ways to loosen their ropes. Wen slips Eric a knife and he takes a long time to cut through them.
Eventually, the two manage to get free but Eric forgets to untie his feet as he lunges. Andrew runs to the car but not to drive away. He has a gun stashed inside that he wants to get. Sabrina follows him and manages to stab his leg and his side, but Andrew is determined to get the gun. He then uses it to shoot a tree and Sabrina gets startled.
Another flashback shows Andrew and Eric at a bar and having a disagreement when a man in a cap shows up and beats Andrew up. Andrew believed it was a hate crime and gets a gun. The man, Bannon, was barely punished for what he did.
KNOCK AT THE CABIN Ending Explained with Spoilers
Andrew heads to the cabin and threatens Leonard. Sabrina runs in at that time and gets shot. Leonard beheads her as part of the ritual.
Andrew has checked Redmond's wallet and found that he was indeed Bannon, the guy who attacked him.
Andrew tells Eric that their car tires have been slashed and reasons that the four intruders may have come in some vehicle. They hold Leonard at gunpoint and lock him in the bathroom.
When they hear a crash, they assume Leonard has escaped and open the bathroom. Leonard is right inside, hiding behind the curtain.
A struggle ensues and Leonard manages to best Andrew. He asks them to turn the TV on and we see thousands of planes falling from the sky. The news reporter states that every plane has crashed all over the world. Leonard tries to act creepier by mouthing the exact lines of the reporter. He wants to show just how powerful his visions are.
But Andrew thinks they are being duped.
Realizing the family still doesn't believe him, Leonard resigns to taking them all out and giving them one last chance to make a decision.
Andrew and Eric refuse to make a decision and send Wen to hide in her tree house. Leonard slits his neck but what we get to see is his white shirt with blood stains.
Storm clouds gather and lightning strikes the trees. Inside the cabin, Eric tells Andrew that he has been seeing a figure in the sunlight and suddenly having visions. Andrew points out he has a concussion and having hallucinations.
Eric tells Andrew he has seen the future where Wen is all grown up, successful in her career and has even found the love of her life. Andrew is with her and they are riding in a fancy car.
Eric then tells Andrew that he is ready to be sacrificed. Eric is shot and Andrew breaks down. Then he goes to find Wen, and takes her away before the lightning strikes the cabin and burns it down.
The two walk down a road and find the truck. Inside, Andrew realizes all of the intruders had been telling the truth about themselves except for Redmond who was actually Bannon.
Andrew starts the car and turns the radio on. A song is playing that reminds Andrew of happier times with Eric. He switches it off. Wen turns it back on, and then seeing Andrew's reaction, turns it off.
Andrew turns the radio back on for Wen's sake.
They drive off to diner where they find out that the world catastrophes have stopped. Everything is returning to normal. Even the deadly disease is under control.
Somehow, the planes that took off were saved too. Even though earlier reports had stated that all the planes had crashed.
Turns out all of them hadn't crashed after all.
Andrew and Wen get back in the car and drive off to a new life without Eric.
The movie ends.
KNOCK AT THE CABIN is an interesting tale and will captivate you from the very first scene.
It may not be the strongest M.Night Shyamalan movie, and there are no shocking twists, but it does play with your emotions and capture your attention.
Scare Scale:
Watch Knock At The Cabin on Prime Video
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