Trailerblazing -- Knock at the Cabin

Knock at the Cabin (2023) - February 3, 2023 - directed by M. Night Shyamalan - starring Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Rupert Grint, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird

                     

After presenting to the world the existential dread of Old, M. Night Shyamalan brings us a new thriller with mysterious undertones. As with all Shyamalan pieces, it is best to know as little as possible before watching; guessing and wondering is all part of the experience. This innovative take on the apocalypse and home invasion horror subgenres tells the tale of a family faced with an impossible dilemma, and the story is wrapped up in the filmmaker's trademark atmospheric and anticipatory melancholy. With palpable suspense and fantastic locations, the film has the potential to spin a uniquely frightening narrative. Following his impressive action breakout in The Matrix Resurrections, Groff has another chance to show off his talents in a completely different type of role. Bautista has also been building an intriguing career, going from a Bond henchman in Spectre to a rogue android in Blade Runner 2049 to what seems like a leader/guru/fanatic part here. Amuka-Bird seems to be becoming a collaborator of Shyamalan's after Old, and Grint could not be further from the Harry Potter series. Knock at the Cabin appears to be a rare breed of film -- a thriller that actually thrills and chills. 

Review -- Scream (2022)

                                         

A pleasant surprise and a thrilling reboot... oops, sorry, I meant requel.

As a fan of the original trilogy -- I was not too keen on the fourth film, but I did think that one of the final lines was pure gold -- I was excited to see the new Scream movie. I had heard only good things and can confirm that it is everything I mentioned above and more. A perfect homage to the original, it also brings new faces to the series and uses its trademark horror and humor to take the story one step further.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

When a killer in the Ghostface costume targets her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega), Sam (Melissa Barrera) returns to Woodsboro. Along with their friends and her loyal boyfriend Richie (Jack Quaid), she attempts to figure out why the murders are taking place again. However, the friends will not have to go it alone, since a few familiar faces are returning to the weary town as well... 

The film ties in perfectly with the original quadrilogy's themes. The Scream films are not only meta and horror reference treasures, they have also always satirized the concept of instant fame and America's obsession with true crime. Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Ready or Not) obviously understands these aspects and does not try "something new". Sure, something new is a fine thing to do, but fans are happy with the feel of this series as is, since it has always dared to turn horror upside down in a unique and often hilarious way. Instead, Bettinelli-Olpin takes everything that fans love about these films and adds more twists and turns, including some throwbacks to the 1996 original. He also strengthens the thin line between horror and dark humor that the series has straddled from the beginning. Ghostface's motives are now linked to toxic fandom -- an obsession with a fictional world that can turn violent or bizarre if it gets out of control.  

The cast is fantastic. Barrera's Sam is a very different kind of final girl, while Ortega's Tara keeps you engaged and guessing. Quaid is a ball of charisma, while Campbell, Cox, Arquette, Ulrich and Matarazzo's appearances are welcome and nostalgic. After seeing Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Scream, I have a feeling that the fearless and magnetic Mikey Madison is up for anything on screen and look forward to seeing what she does next. Jasmin Savoy Brown's Mindy channels Randy through her own playfulness, while Mason Gooding's Chad provides humor and smarts as a not-so-stereotypical jock. Finally, Dylan Minnette is great as Wes, who is not only a nice tribute to Wes Craven, but also one of the most clever and endearing characters.

The new Scream is a fantastic continuation of the Woodsboro story. Fresh, lively and suspenseful, it will keep you on the edge of your seat and it is one of the best horror entries in recent years. If you are a fan, watch it now. If you love horror and have never seen the movies -- is this even possible? -- watch all five as soon as you can and maybe make it a Halloween marathon. Happy scares, everyone.

9/10