Skip to main content
film review

During a weekend alone, a happily married architect is interrupted by the sudden arrival of two lost and seemingly innocent girls in Knock Knock.Eduardo Moreno

At first glance, Eli Roth's new film seems like an original and welcome diversion from his gore-heavy C.V.

After family man Evan (Keanu Reeves, delightfully bewildered as usual) stays home for a long weekend to catch up on work, two young women knock on his door in the middle of the night: They're lost, soaked from the rain, and straight out of a porn-like fantasy.

But one jacuzzi-set threesome later – after they basically sexually assault him – Evan finds himself in a waking nightmare, as his nubile new friends seem hellbent on destroying his home and life.

A simple but effective spin on the crushing guilt that comes with infidelity, no? Well, yes, but it's merely a beat-by-beat remake of the 1977 grindhouse oddity Death Game.

Thankfully, Roth ditches the gay-panic undertones (and bewildering ending) of the original, and trades up in both cast and budget.

But all the upgrades in the world can't mask the fact that the thriller is all foreplay and no, well, climax.

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe