Few contemporary filmmakers are as unpredictable as M. Night Shyamalan, not solely in the sense that his narratives explore uncharted territory, but the actual success of those adventures can never be anticipated. Over the last 25 years, he’s wowed audiences with projects like The Sixth Sense and Signs, yet also delivered definitive disappointments with projects like The Happening and The Last Airbender. Despite 2017’s Split showcasing just how compelling of a filmmaker he can really be, he followed that with two certified clunkers in Glass and Old. Knock on the Cabin could have been a nail in the coffin of the late stages of his career, but by focusing on a contained premise, riveting performances, and ambiguously apocalyptic stakes, Shyamalan has proven once again that he has what it takes to deliver a thrilling journey into the minds of fanatics and those caught in the path of their fervor.
