He has his fans and his detractors, but there's no denying that M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most consistent and unique horror/thriller filmmakers working in the industry today. From his celebrated modern classics like The Sixth Sense (1999) and Unbreakable (2000) to guilty pleasure cult favorites like The Happening (2008) and Old (2021), Shyamalan has cemented himself as an auteur filmmaker whose style of storytelling is unmistakable and consistently entertaining. He's also a director who never fails to do something a bit different with each film he makes while still inserting his signature style, and his latest project appears to be no exception. Knock at the Cabin is another thrilling existential tale from the master of twists, and just like his previous film Old, it tells the story of a seemingly normal family vacation gone horribly wrong.
The film follows a family of three consisting of husbands Andrew (Jonathan Groff) and Eric (Ben Aldridge), as well as their daughter Wen (Kristen Cui), who have rented a cabin in the woods for a quick vacation getaway. If you've seen almost any horror movie ever, then you know going to a derelict cabin far from civilization is bound to yield terrifying results. The consequences this time come in the form of four strangers led by Leonard (Dave Bautista), who informs the innocent family that they have been chosen by a higher power to make a horrible decision to prevent the end of the world. Questions of whether this quest to prevent the apocalypse is genuine or is rooted in fantasy can only really be answered by watching the film, so to find out when and where Knock at the Cabin will be knocking on a door near you, here is exactly how to watch the latest film from M. Night Shyamalan.
The official plot synopsis for Knock at the Cabin reads as follows:
While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.
It was recently also confirmed that the film is an adaption of Paul Tremblay's novel The Cabin at the End of the World, but as with many adaptations, it will likely have various similarities and differences between the film and the source material.
Editor's Note: This article was last updated on March 18 with the streaming, Blu-ray, and DVD release dates.
Is Knock at the Cabin Still In Theaters?
Leonard and his band of would-be doomsday preventers arrived in theaters on Friday, February 3, 2023. The film, however, isn't playing in movie theaters anymore, so, at the moment, you don't have the option of catching Knock at the Cabin on the big screen.
Is Knock at the Cabin Streaming Online?
Peacock has announced that Knock at the Cabin will stream exclusively on Peacock starting March 24, 2023. And when it's out, you'll be able to watch it by clicking on the following button:
For those who don't have Peacock yet, there are two main subscription plans: Premium and Premium+ (the service is also technically available free with ads but typically newer releases require a paid subscription). Premium costs $4.99 USD per month and offers access to the entire Peacock catalog of movies and shows as well as select live television events with limited ads. Premium+ costs $9.99 USD per month and offers all the benefits of the less expensive tier but with no ads and the ability to download titles to watch offline.
When Is Knock at the Cabin's Digital Release Date?
While you wait for the film to make its streaming debut, you can now watch Knock at the Cabin from the comfort of your home by getting it on Premium Video-on-Demand (PVOD). The film is available on most major online video stores, and you can use the following link to buy/rent it on Amazon:
Watch the Trailer for Knock at the Cabin
The trailer for Knock at the Cabin introduces the family, with parents Andrew and Eric singing along with their daughter Wen together. It doesn't take long for Wen to come face-to-face with Leonard and his companions, and interestingly enough, the four antagonists seem to be genuinely remorseful of the actions they're about to commit. These aren't your run-of-the-mill horror movie slasher villains, but people who genuinely believe they've been told what to do to prevent the end of the world and are horrified by the prospects of what must be done to do so. What that unspeakable decision they charge the family with is still unknown, but whatever it is, it can't be good.
When Is Knock at the Cabin Releasing on DVD and Blu-ray?
You'll have to wait a little bit to add Knock at the Cabin to your physical collection. The film's set to be released in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, and DVD formats on May 9, 2023. While that's still some time away, the physical media releases come with over 40 minutes of deleted scenes, featurettes, and more bonus features.
How's the Critical Reception to Knock at the Cabin?
Fairly well. The film has a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes currently, as well as 62% on Metacritic. Collider's Ross Bonaime gave the movie a B rating in his review and calls it a reminder of why we love Shyamalan's work. Read on for an excerpt from the review or read the full article here.
"at its very core, Knock at the Cabin works because it reminds of the early days of Shyamalan, when he felt like the next coming of Alfred Hitchcock, and his films would leave the audience talking for days after. While Knock at the Cabin isn’t necessarily up to the standards of Shyamalan in the late 90s-early 2000s, it’s hard to watch Knock at the Cabin and not get a jolt of a reminder of why Shyamalan felt so important in the first place, and how exciting watching one of his films could be."
More Cabin Horror Films That You Can Watch Right Now
Friday the 13th (1980): One of the most recognizable horror franchises in history got its start in 1980, and though the series may be known for Jason Voorhees and his signature hockey mask, some not as familiar with the franchise may be surprised the Crystal Lake killer isn't as major a component for the first installment. Still, the original Friday film is an absolute blast of a horror film and one that an infinite number of movies in the genre were influenced by after it.
The Evil Dead (1981): Speaking of influential horror films that take place in a cabin, the genre was graced by Sam Raimi's (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) low-budget masterpiece with The Evil Dead. The film not only introduced the world to Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), one of the most beloved horror heroes of all time, but it also provides jaw-dropping special effects and a dry sense of humor to combat the demons summoned by the Book of the Dead.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011): There are a few films so good and so surprising that fans of them dare not give their friends even the most minor details, and The Cabin in the Woods is one of those films. The film follows five high school friends as they head to a derelict cabin to spend their vacation. That may sound generic, but The Cabin in the Woods is highly self-aware of its generic plot and is something of a satire on the genre as a whole, and it's a film that needs to be seen as blind as possible in order to get the full effect of one of the most refreshing and unique horror films in years.