Horror audiences enjoyed it really creepy deals in 2022 and I hope that trend continues this year, as M. Night Shyamalan’s latest project call the booth will be released in theaters on February 3. Based on the novel The cabin at the end of the world by famed horror author Paul Tremblay, the film features an excellent cast that includes Dave Bautista Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge. First answers a call the booth were generally positive, with some saying it was M. Night Shyamalan’s best film in years. Now the reviews are here tell us more about the thriller .
Release date: February 3, 2023
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Written by: Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman and M. Night Shyamalan
Protagonist of: Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Dave Bautista, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Quinn, Kristen Cui and Rupert Grint
Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge play Eric and Andrew, parents who are vacationing in a remote cabin in the Pennsylvania woods with their daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) when strangers invade their getaway with the surprising news that one of their own must be sacrificed to prevent the apocalypse . Let’s see what critics say about the film, starting with 24 News Bulletin Review by call the booth . Eric Eisenberg gives the film 2 out of 5 stars, praising the performances, especially Dave Bautista’s role as the main antagonist, but says its audience’s perceived lack of imagination prevents it from getting anywhere near a satisfying conclusion. He continues:
There’s a lot to like about Knock At The Cabin, but it’s really enough that the film hits the bar for “disappointing” rather than “bad.” We always go to M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film hoping it’s his next The Sixth Sense, The Protected One or Divided, but it’s more on the level of Glass and Old.
Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon.net gives the film a “poor” rating of 4 out of 10, noting that while there is good acting and entertaining dialogue, the poorly written script and tonal inconsistencies contribute to the story not reaching its full potential. More from the review:
While Knock at the Cabin may not be as gruesome as films like The Last Airbender and Old, it’s still a weak and predictable thriller that never quite taps into its premise. Shyamalan’s style is something to behold and can be seen in almost all of his work. He creates bold and emotional stories with terrifying elements based on human drama. Sometimes he does it wonderfully. With this, not so much.
Julian Roman of MovieWeb says the convoluted premise of call the booth it’s just not worth it and the film stumbles as the predictable narrative unfolds. The critic says:
Voluntary suspension of disbelief can go no further. The biblical end of days makes more sense than some of the action in this film. Several scenes push gullibility to breaking point. Shyamalan, exceptionally, does not drop any bombs. Additional elements were needed to fuel the storyline.
The reviews are not all negative, however, with Mike Ryan of Uproxx saying it is one of M. Night Shyamalan’s best. The reviewer also praises Dave Bautista’s performance, saying he doesn’t know if the film would work without him. The review continues:
M. Night Shyamalan can be edgy with his films, but he’s always on the lookout for something, even if it doesn’t always work out. But I appreciate that even when it doesn’t work, he still does it. But when he hits one right, he’s sure to hit. And here he is really at his best. He lets the story breathe and really allows all these actors to drive what happens instead of putting something all together here to surprise us just for the sake of surprise.
Chris Evangelista of Slash Films also think call the booth is a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan, with a 7 out of 10 rating. While the reviewer wants the script to delve into some of the themes it overlooks, this intense and haunting film proves he is still a great filmmaker. He says:
Tension is the name of the game and Shyamalan knows exactly how to develop it. It arises and builds until it breaks. This is perhaps the director’s most intense film to date, and while there are occasional bursts of genuine humor, Knock at the Cabin is more concerned with leaving you unsettled and disturbed by what you witness. From this point of view, Knock at the Cabin is a success, even if his script falls short of visual intensity. What is lacking here is made up for by Shyamalan’s cinematography. He say what you want about the director, but he always has it.
If you are a fan of Film by M. Night Shyamalan or if you want to see how this apocalyptic thriller unfolds, you can from Friday February 3, when call the booth arrives in cinemas. In the meantime, check out some of the best horror movies of all time and use ours Movie release schedule 2023 to start planning your next theater visit.
Source: Cinemablend
