Knock at the Cabin (2023)

A family on vacation is house invaded by 4 strangers who ask for a willing sacrifice in order to save the world from its own end.

'Knock at the Cabin' is a mystery/horror film by M. Night Shyamalan. With a few famous faces, and an announced mystery, the film manages to be vague and slow when it wasn't necessary, overly dramatic and yet consistent in its imperfections.

Director:  M. Night Shyamalan    

With: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint

Rating: 6/10

Old (2021)

A family on vacation discovers that all its members are aging rapidly.

'Old' is a psychological, supernatural horror film, one of the films with which M. Night Shyamalan delighted us as a comeback. Based on an extreme view of the ideas around "the end justifies the means", the current film has the intended effect, highlighting very harshly the horror of the idea that the individual does not matter when many benefit. The film's message and and execution are pretty much lacking in subtlety this time, but without canceling the overall effect. 

Director:  M. Night Shyamalan      

With: Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, Eliza Scanlen, Ken Leung, Embeth Davidtz

Rating: 8/10

Wayward Pines (2015) - season 1

Un agent secret isi cauta colegii disparuti in zona Wayward Pines, dar ramane blocat in oraselul secretos.

Un serial ce promitea multe dupa alaturarea unui nume ca M Night Shyamalan si cu o echipa de actori de prima mana. Prima jumatate a serialului este excelenta, cu un suspans bine masurat si o intriga demna de Hitchcock. Pe la jumatate, cam aflam care e radacina misterului, si cumva cumva, atractia inca exista si misterul inca functioneaza, dar undeva spre final, totul este dat peste cap si povestea da intr-un The Purge cu adolescenti prost scris si prost executat, ce anuleaza usor orice interes pentru potentialul unui sezon secundar ce poate nu ar face aceleasi alegeri. Si totusi, se pare ca este o parere populara, deoarece ratingul scazut al celui de-al doilea sezon a culminat cu anularea lui Wayward Pines.

Regia:  M. Night Shyamalan, Vincenzo Natali (doar cate 1 episod) si multi altii   

Productie:  FOX   

Creator:  Chad Hodge   

Durata:  Sezonul 1 din 2 sezoane a cate 10 episoade (44 de minute fiecare)   

Cu: Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon, Charlie Tahan, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo, Terrence Howard, Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Rating: 7/10

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Glass (2019)

Glass, Overseer si Beast sunt adusi impreuna de circumstante externe pentru a putea fi convinsi ca impresia de a avea puteri speciale este o dereglare psihica.

Al treilea film dintr-o trilogie anuntata, Glass in sfarsit leaga intamplarile din Unbreakable si Split. Cu o premisa slabuta (convingerea ca abilitatile speciale sunt doar umane si nu mistice ar trebui sa distruga puterea celor trei...) ce contrazice primul film (David era "special" fara sa fie constient de asta), filmul se desfasoara oarecum rapid si se termina ca un balon dezumflat dezvaluind implicarea unui al treilea tip de jucator. 

Ca entertainment filmul functioneaza ok, ca o continuare pentru fanii unei capodopere (Unbreakable) este dezamagitor.

Regie/scenariu: M. Night Shyamalan

Cu: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English