Based on Paul B. Tremblay’sThe Cabin at the End of the Worldnovel,Knock at the Cabindocuments the struggles of a family that is faced with an impossible choice. Hoping to enjoy a quiet vacation, Eric, Andrew, and their daughter Wen, find themselves trapped in their getaway cabin when they are approached by an intimidating group of individuals who claim they can prevent the apocalypse.
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Like most M. Night Shyamalan movies,Knock at the Cabinrelies heavily onthe psychological horror genreto convey its unnerving story, and though the tale is quite unique, fans of the movie have countless movies to choose from if they want to watch something similar.
7Green Room (2015)
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier,Green Roomfollows the members ofthe Ain’t Rights, a punk band en route to play a show. When they learn their slot has been canceled, however, they are forced to find work elsewhere, which results in them getting a supporting slot at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar on the outskirts of Portland.
Once they finish playing, bassist Pat returns to the green room only to find that the members of the band he was supporting have killed a young woman. He then attempts to flee, but before he can escape, he is ushered back into the green room with his friends. UnlikeKnock at the Cabin, the antagonists ofGreen Roomare very rarely seen, but when they are, the movie becomes quite terrifying.
Directed by Sam Raimi,The Evil Dead 2follows Ash Williamsand his girlfriend, Linda, during their stay at a woodland cabin. Shortly after arriving, Ash discovers a recording of an archeologist and plays it back. Unfortunately for him, the archeologist then proceeds to recite a passage from the Book of the Dead, which unleashes an array of terrifying entities into the world.
ThoughKnock at the Cabinis quite grounded when compared toThe Evil Dead 2in terms of its premise, those who enjoy M. Night Shyamalan’s unconventional methods of storytelling are sure to appreciateSam Raimi’s workhere. While it doesn’t take itself as seriously asKnock at the Cabin,The Evil Dead 2offers a hilarious spin on the unnerving cabin in the woods movie trope.
5The Ritual (2017)
The Ritual, directed by David Bruckner, follows four friends on their trip to Sweden, where they plan to hike along the Kungsleden. During their second day of hiking, Dom injures his knee, so the group elects to take a shortcut through the forest in order to get him some help. Shortly into the detour, however, they find themselves lost, and they begin to suspect they are being hunted.
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WhileKnock at the Cabinmostly takes place inside a remote cabin,The Ritualis largely set in a dark and dense forest. Even though both settings are completely different,The Ritualstill manages to remain an extremely claustrophobic movie, especiallywhen the Jotunn appears.
4You’re Next (2011)
You’re Next, directed by Adam Wingard, is a slasher horror movie centered around the estranged Davidson family. Hoping to bring the family together again, Paul and Aubrey invite their four children and their partners to celebrate their wedding anniversary, but their time together is spoiled when a group ofcrossbow-wielding strangersbegin hunting them.
LikeKnock at the Cabin,You’re Nextknows exactly how to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It uses its household setting to enhance the sense of being trapped while utilizing the helplessness felt by the protagonists to evoke sympathy from all those who witness their struggle to survive.
3The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers, directed by Bryan Bertino, tells the story of Kristen McKey and James Hoyt, a loving couple who find themselves at the mercy ofa group of masked murderers. They hoped to spend a relaxing weekend at James' childhood holiday home, but when the intruders attempt to break in, their vacation quickly comes to an end.
ThoughKnock at the Cabindoesn’t rely on masked murderers to evoke fear in its viewers, the way the antagonists ofThe Strangersare presented is quite similar, even if their motivations differ.The Strangersis a fine example of how a horror movie can be used to evoke a sense of claustrophobia by cornering its heroes and forcing them to find a way out.
2Old (2021)
Based on Pierre Oscar Levy’s graphic novel,Sandcastle,Old, also directed by M. Night Shyamalan, follows the Cappa family during their final family vacation to a remote tropical resort. Shortly into their vacation, they are approached by the resort’s manager and invited to spend the day at a beach reserved for special guests.
Upon arriving at the location, the family realizes that they cannot leave and that every moment they spend on the shore is aging them at a rapid pace. LikeKnock at the Cabin,Oldis home to some seriously unsettling imagery, but much of what makes the movie so compelling is how its story is slowly drip-fed to its viewers.
1The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Directed by Drew Goddard,The Cabin in the Woodstells the story of a group of college students during their stay at a remote woodland cabin. What begins as a pretty ordinary vacation, however, slowly becomes a nightmare from which none of the youths can wake up.
LikeKnock at the Cabin,The Cabin in the Woodsrelies a great deal on otherworldly phenomena to tell its harrowing tale. The students are regularly plagued by monstrous beings during their stay at the cabin, but only the audience is made aware of why the protagonists are being targeted. The story begins as a pretty straightforward horror movie, before becoming something else entirely toward its climax.
