Knock at the Cabin ending explained: how the movie differs from the book Dexerto

chris tilly

❘ Published: 2023-02-03T09:00:00

❘ Updated: 2023-02-03T09:06:55

Knock at the Cabin is in theaters now, with M. Night Shyamalan’s apocalyptic horror forcing an innocent family to make a terrible choice. But how does the story unfold in the film and also in the book on which it is based?

Knock at the Cabin is the new film from the master of mystery M. Night Shyamalan. The writer-director’s films are often slow exercises in tension and suspense, often coming with a sting in his story.

From The Sixth Sense and The Protected One to The Village and Split, Shyamalan’s twist has become the stuff of legend. In fact, audiences now expect, and often demand, some kind of change at the end of his films.

However, Knock at the Door is not an original story by Shyamalan. Instead, the movie is based on a book called The Cabin at the End of the World, by Paul Tremblay. And while the movie follows the book pretty closely, its narratives deviate at the end. This is how they unfold, starting with the book…

End of the Cabin at the End of the World

Here’s the official synopsis for Knock at the Cabin, which also works for the book: “While vacationing in a remote cabin, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand the family make an unthinkable decision.” to prevent the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe in before all is lost.”

The choice that is asked of the family is to murder one of their own. And the key moment in the book is when that young woman, Wen, is accidentally shot and killed. The fact that death is unwilling means that doomsday has not been averted, and now one of his parents, Eric and Andrew, must kill the other.

The distraught couple consider suicide. Then discuss if they want to exist in a world, and under a God, where Wen’s death isn’t enough. Ultimately they both they decide to live, risking the apocalypse and the fate of the world.

Knock at the Cabin ending explained

If you are a fan of the book, the ending of the movie will surprise you, since it is more or less the opposite. There are also twists and turns throughout the film, most notably with Rupert Grint’s character Redmond appearing to have previously assaulted Andrew, then appearing not to, before the film finally reveals that… did.

But the biggest change is that Wen It is not be shot and killed. Which means that Eric and Andrew aren’t as heartbroken during the climax, and they have to think about their fate when making their decision.

The strangers make a compelling case for doomsday, with Eric being the first to believe, then Andrew finally “sees the light” as well. So the family decides to do as they are told and kill one of their own. Andrew shoots Eric, offscreen, and then walks away from the now-burning cabin with Wen.

Have they prevented the apocalypse? Where the outcome was ambiguous in the book, the movie suggests it was, making the ending less nihilistic, and less disturbing as a result, too.

Knock at the Cabin is out now, while you can read our movie review here.