Should Moviegoers Answer the Door for 'Knock Knock?' The Critics Weigh In
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=calo5qJWNkc
Eli Roth's mystery-suspense film "Knock Knock" has a fun premise - two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on a devoted married man's door for help, when dangerous seduction ensues - but unfortunately for the horror aficionado, critics say the plot has its moments, but is overall unfulfilling.
The flick, which stars Keanu Reeves as star Evan Webber, received a mere 38 precent score from Rotten Tomatoes . Read what the reviewers have to say below:
"What would 'Knock Knock' look like with a handsome nobody in Reeves's role and two smart, established actresses opposite him? (Is it going too far to imagine a woman behind the camera?) Such a film would likely have trouble with the audience this one is courting. But it would probably be a lot more interesting." -- John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter
But Roth isn't dissed overall. Some argue that though this isn't his best, he comes from a talented place.
"Eli Roth's first three movies — 'Cabin Fever,' 'Hostel' and its sequel — were effectively unsettling horror efforts that also operated on the level of keen social satire. That's a difficult gamble many filmmakers attempt but few pull off with such gleeful entertainment value intact, and perhaps they set the bar too high. Needless to say, Roth's two followups behind the camera, the cannibal shocker 'The Green Inferno' and now the home invasion dark comedy 'Knock Knock,' fail to achieve the same tricky balance" -- Eric Kohn, Indie Wire
And then there are those who believe this film is just bad news all around.
"Do not look for any answers behind what takes place in 'Knock Knock,' motivations are paper-thin if they exist at all. Do not look for scares either as the film is a far cry from some of Roth's other work. Do not look for knowing winks or nods about the foolishness to the audience, 'Knock Knock' feels in no way self-aware. Do not bother thinking through what you might have done in such a situation; few would ever find themselves having made the first ludicrously bad choice and no one would have ever followed it up with so many more bad choices. In fact, the whole film is full of bad choices and is better forgotten." -- Josh Lasser, IGN.com