By John Corrado

Please note that this is a review of the Blu-ray release of Knock at the Cabin. For my full thoughts on the film itself, you can read my original review right here.

M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, Knock at the Cabin, is being released on Blu-ray this week. Based on the novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, the film follows a couple (Ben Aldridge and Jonathan Groff) who are on vacation with their young daughter (Kristen Cui).

Things take a dark turn when four strangers (played by Dave Bautista, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint) appear armed with weapons and take the family hostage, believing that the world will end unless a sacrifice is made.

As I said in my review, Knock at the Cabin is “a bleak, gripping, thought-provoking film.” The majority of the film takes place in this cabin, which Shyamalan uses to establish a sense of claustrophobia, along with the always interesting cinematography.

The committed performances by the small ensemble cast are also key to the film’s success, with Bautista giving a very strong dramatic performance that is some of his finest work. But it’s the deeper religious themes of Shyamalan’s film that kept me invested, build around a compelling moral dilemma. While the ending is bound to divide some audiences, I liked this one overall. It’s a solid chamber piece thriller that warrants a recommendation.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

Bonus Features (Blu-ray):

The Blu-ray includes a decent amount of bonus content. A regular DVD is also included in the package, which ships with a slipcover.

• Deleted Scenes (Play All – 5 minutes, 35 seconds)

• They Need Some Time (1 minute, 31 seconds)

• Going to Church (1 minute, 34 seconds)

• Enjoying the Sun (56 seconds)

• Leonard Explains (1 minute, 31 seconds)

• Chowblaster Infomercial – Extended (1 minute, 10 seconds): The full version of the fake infomercial, featuring Shyamalan in his obligatory cameo.

• Choosing Wisely: Behind the Scenes of Knock at the Cabin (23 minutes, 37 seconds): A surprisingly in-depth look at the story, characters, religious themes of the film, and the importance of casting openly gay actors in the leading roles.

• Tools of the Apocalypse (5 minutes, 3 seconds): A closer look at the unique weapons that the Four Horsemen carry in the film.

• Drawing a Picture (3 minutes, 36 seconds): A closer look at Shyamalan’s extensive use of storyboards to map out the film.

• Kristen Cui Shines a Light (3 minutes, 46 seconds): The two leads talk about working with a child actress, while Cui talks about her experience on set.

Knock at the Cabin is a Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release. It’s 100 minutes and rated 14A.

Street Date: May 9th, 2023