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‘Knock at the Cabin’: Puttin on your boogie shoes!

Published

1 year ago

February 8, 2023

Reviewed by Alicia Glass

Spoilers be knockin’ too!

Based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, while on vacation at their cabin, a family is terrorized by a quartet of strangers who demand they make an impossible decision in order to avert the world-destroying apocalypse!

This is a strange one, even for Shymalan. The theme of “it’s just not enough” runs rampant throughout the film, whether it be character motivations, resolve, end results, or even proof of what these strangers are espousing. I could excuse the whole apocalypse news non-proof as a matter of faith, which isn’t supposed to be proven as a matter of course, but it’s not as if any of these characters had an actual religious revelation. Just speculation, and a leap of faith, not in any kind of deity, but the potential inherent goodness in humanity, at the very end. And if any of the characters, either Andrew and Eric or the apocalypse crew, had had some kind of massive revelation in that vein, the ending would’ve had a lot more punchy impact. As it was, things just kind of petered out in an exhausted fashion.

So Eric (Jonathon Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) genuinely love each-other, despite parental and societal objections, and personal shortcomings, to the point where they’re ready to have (adopt) a baby together. And Wen (Kristen Cui) truly is a miracle, scarred lip and Asian heritage and all. But the fact remains that our lovely gay couple have to pretend that one of them is the brother of a fictitious wife who mysteriously couldn’t be there on adoption day, otherwise it wouldn’t be allowed at all; Andrew’s parents drove seven hours to meet the love of his life and stayed for all of forty-five excruciating minutes of virtual silence; and then there’s the homophobic trash starting fights at a bar, that ended with Andrew traumatized and determined to defend himself and his love. (One of the few great things about the film is the clear demonstration of an expression, pardon me here: “Just because a man is gay, does not make him a p*ssy.”)

All these experiences had a tendency to have a kind of polarizing effect on Eric and Andrew, who are still together but now seem to have deepened into separate opinions on humanity – Andrew is, to my mind anyway, justifiably angry and wrathful, whereas Eric simply smiles beatifically, like an angel who forgives you no matter what you do, willingly suffering martyrdom or at the very least some massive head trauma, offered up like a sacrifice of love. And hey, speaking of sacrifices ….

None of that has been piecemealed out to the audience as yet, when Wen meets a large disturbing man while out hunting grasshoppers at the cabin. Leonard (Dave Bautista), is the gentle but insistent giant, leader of the quartet come here to present Eric and Andrew’s family with an impossible choice: voluntarily sacrifice someone of our trio, to save the whole world from the apocalypse, end of days, wtfever you want to call it.

With Leonard is a trio of believers, all claiming to have seen the same visions, seeing each-other wear the exact same colors as they invade the cabin, the horrific destruction of the world by fire and flood and plane-death, even the homemade apocalypse avatar weapons, all intent and terrified, but singularly determined. Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird) is, or was, a nurse practitioner, and deals violence with one hand while immediately trying to heal it with the other, hence a mightily contradictory character who still resolves to see this through to the end. Adriane (Abby Quinn) is the twitchy, nervously tic-ing line cook, the one who regards serving good food as a form of love and laughs a little too much, like she’s gone insane just by being here, which is about par for this course. And rounding out our foursome is Redmond (Rupert Grint), impatient and jittery and more prone to violence than any of the rest of them, the one who seems eerily familiar in fact, the first to suggest savagery to get Eric and Andrew to cooperate, and the first to die as a consequence.

Time is running out and though Leonard is profusely apologetic, we absolutely must continue with the attempts to save the world, there are rules to be followed, and we only get a few more chances. As if the calamitous news stories about planes falling out of the sky and catastrophic tsunamis consuming coastlines wasn’t enough, every time Eric and Andrew refuse to make a choice, a believer has to die and (another) plague is unleashed upon mankind. Seeing a stranger, fanatic zealot or not, get brutally slain with homemade doomsday weapons after voluntarily dropping to his/her knees and donning a white hood is disturbing, to say the very least. And yet, despite literally shaking in their boots and sobbing like the Niagara, our faithful are here to give it a few more last, desperate goes at saving the whole world!

There’s a general agreement that director Shyamalan’s films have been steadily going downhill since arguably his magnum opus The Sixth Sense, and Knock at the Cabin is no real exception. There isn’t really even any kind of twist or gotcha that Shyamalan’s known for – actual aliens, ghostly supernatural shenanigans, killer plants, centenarian-laced beaches, all of that and more is nowhere to be found in our Cabin. Just a very disquieting sense that two beleaguered gay men forced into being the deciders of the fate of humanity as a whole, to offer up their true, real love as a sacrifice to some seriously sh*tty (and yknow, occasionally murderous) other humans is highly inflammatory and judgmental. Maybe that’s what Shyamalan was going for, who knows? And as always, Shyamalan himself gets a cameo in the film, see if you can spot him!

Save your judgment for the very last scene and catch Knock at the Cabin in theaters now!

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Apple TV+ announces season two for delightful kids and family series “Camp Snoopy

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Christopher Sweda

Today, Apple TV+ announced a season two for acclaimed kids and family series “Camp Snoopy,” based on the classic Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and directed by Rob Boutilier (“The Snoopy Show,” “Snoopy in Space”). The complete first season of “Camp Snoopy” is now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to immerse themselves in nature and the Great Outdoors, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience hiking, swimming, sitting around campfires and everything summer camp and the outdoors have to offer.

Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, “Camp Snoopy” is based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and is directed by Rob Boutilier (“The Snoopy Show,” “Snoopy in Space”). Executive producers are Craig Schulz, Paige Braddock, Boutilier, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Logan McPherson.

“Camp Snoopy” joined an exciting slate of new offerings for kids and families on Apple TV+ this summer featuring the second season of beloved animated series “Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning books; animated adventure trilogy “WondLa,” based on the New York Times bestselling book series “The Search for WondLa” by Tony DiTerlizzi; highly anticipated kids and family series “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!,” inspired by the hit, Emmy Award-nominated cultural phenomenon “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; “Me,” an elevated cinematic coming-of-age story from Barry L. Levy; and, the first-ever television adaptation of the cult classic film, “Time Bandits,” starring Lisa Kudrow.

Award-winning all-age offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+ include celebrated live action animated hybrid special, “The Velveteen Rabbit”; the Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”; Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated film “Wolfwalkers”; the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling With Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” “Frog and Toad,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show,” Scholastic’s “Eva the Owlet” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward,” “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter,” Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award winning “Jane,” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.”

Also included are “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers, and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” Emmy Award-winning “Snoopy Presents: Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.”

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 499 wins and 2,262 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

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Hallmark’s “Holidazed” Brings Laughter and Love with a Fresh Holiday Twist

Published

2 weeks ago

July 12, 2024

Angie Quidim

Hallmark’s latest limited comedy TV series, “Holidazed,” promises to be the highlight of the holiday season, offering humor, heartfelt moments, and a celebration of diverse traditions. The series follows six families from different backgrounds, cultures, and generations, all living on the same cul-de-sac, as they come together to celebrate the holidays. Each family navigates their unique traditions and eccentricities, ultimately discovering a common bond: love in its many forms.

“Holidazed” features six diverse families residing in the same neighborhood. The series blends comedic and touching moments as these families embrace the joyous chaos of the holiday season, engaging in both humorous and heartfelt celebrations of their traditions. Through the festivities, they uncover the universal thread that binds them all: love.

Meet the Families

Lewin Family:

– Dennis Haysbert (“24”)

-Loretta Devine (“Grey’s Anatomy”)

– Ser’Darius Blain(“Charmed”)

Manetti-Hanahan Family:

– Virginia Madsen (“Witches of East End”)

– John C. McGinley(“Scrubs”)

Lin Family:

– Lucille Soong (“Fresh Off the Boat”)

-Osric Chau(“Supernatural”)

Woods Family:

– Rachelle Lefevre (“Under the Dome”)

-Lindy Booth(“The Librarians”)

Hill Family:

– Ian Harding(“Pretty Little Liars”)

– Erin Cahill (“Red Widow”)

Camerena Family:

– Elizabeth Goodenough

– Noemi Gonzales

“Holidazed” dives into the heart of the holiday season with themes of family, love, and unity. The show’s unique premise of six families celebrating their holiday traditions in a shared neighborhood brings a fresh twist to holiday programming. Viewers will experience laughter, tears, and everything in between as they follow these families.

The stellar cast, featuring Dennis Haysbert, Loretta Devine, Virginia Madsen, John C. McGinley, and more, delivers top-notch performances that bring the characters and their stories to life.

Join the conversation and share your excitement about “Holidazed” using these hashtags: #Holidazed2024, #HallmarkHolidays, #FamilyTraditions, #HolidayLove, #ComedySeries, #DiverseFamilies, #HallmarkComedy, #HolidaySeries.

“Holidazed” is set to be a heartwarming and entertaining addition to Hallmark’s holiday lineup. With its blend of comedy, diverse cultural celebrations, and the theme of love, this limited series is sure to become a holiday favorite. Tune in to experience the magic and joy of “Holidazed” this holiday season.

Stay connected and share your thoughts using the hashtags above, and get ready to be “Holidazed!”

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The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic: Not like that!

Published

2 weeks ago

July 9, 2024

Alicia glass

The unneeded third wheel in the classic isekai trope, Ken Usato is stunned to discover that while he may not be the Hero the Kingdom of Llinger summoned, he can be heroic with his newfound ultra-rare healing magic!

So, the classic eternal battle between the human Kingdom of whomever, against the current Demon Lord and his multitude of minions, features a whole cast of well-known characters – the King of course, his family with at least one Crown Prince/ess, his Royals and Nobles, usually a whole bunch of badass Knights, Mercenaries, Magic-users of every color of the rainbow, archers and expendable foot-soldiers and the like. What most adventuring isekai actually tries to veer away from, is the realities of the battlefield, the stench and the horror, the dead and dying everywhere, and the very real danger any good healer has to face in order to do their duty as a healer.

And this is where Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic absolutely shines, somehow mixing the reality of the battlefield healer’s situation with the almost innocent adventurous joy of your favorite isekai. So, let’s dive headfirst into this!

The head kids of the Student Council back on Earth, Suzune Inukami and Kazuki Ryuusen, along with the ride-hitching Ken Usato, are transported to the Kingdom of Llinger by summoning a circle, to fight the inevitable demon lord attacking the kingdom. And while the Kingdom, even willing to use forbidden magic to summon these new Heroes as they are, is thrilled at the enthusiasm of Inukami and perhaps even the reluctance of Kazuki, they are absolutely terrified at Usato’s advent of healing magic. It’s all suddenly and rather violently explained with the introduction of Rose, a healer herself, head of the Rescue Team battlefield healers, and known to be an exceptionally brutal and eccentric trainer. Much to his chagrin, Rose gleefully scoops Usato up and deposits him into the most grueling training regimen of his entire young life!

And thus the training from hell, because that is quite possibly literally what it is, begins in earnest. Usato groans about the severe physical aspect of the training, as there is almost no magical training involved at all; he gets tossed into the Darkness of Llinger, a forest known for killing monsters and carnivorous plants, only to come out of it boasting a new blue grizzly companion; Blurin, as the large grizzly cub is named, instantly becomes a very large part of Usato’s running and training regimen.

All of this is effectively useless without actual battlefield experience, and monsters are fleeing the forest because the demon lord and his kin are encroaching, so we the Rescue Team really have to hustle! Rose has every intention of training a “subordinate who will never die”, haunted as she is by underlings she couldn’t save in her head of the Kingdom of Llinger’s army Knight past, and she dubs Usato eventually fit for the job, informing the King of such herself.

But what happens when the war, or at least the first major skirmish, begins in brutal violence, and the Rescue Team has no choice but to wade in? As it turns out, not only is Usato blessed with super strong healing magic and the training to now use it pretty well, he begins to use these powers in ways no one’s ever thought of before, offensively even. Imagine, using healing magic to create such things as what Usato unimaginatively names the Ultimate Healing Punch, but to save the Black Knight, an enemy combatant who Usato firmly believes is actually worth saving and converting.

And who’s to say Usato’s wrong? Rose, despite never coming up with such a thing on her own, is nevertheless extremely proud and considers her trust and faith in Usato and his wrong ways of using healing magic completely well-placed.

Find out what other wrong ways Usato and pals will use his healing magic, on Crunchyroll now!