Frightfest 2023: ‘The Knocking’ Review
Stars: Saana Koivisto, Inka Kallén, Pekka Strang | Written and Directed by Joonas Pajunen, Max Seeck
As a young girl, Matilda (Saana Koivisto) was discovered locked inside a cage while her father’s dead body lay outside, and her mother was declared missing. Now an adult, Matilda inherits the house and the surrounding forest along with her older siblings, Maria (Inka Kallén) and Mikko (Pekka Strang). Their return sees the siblings face their traumatic past while grappling with unfathomable forces.
Writing/directing duo Joonas Pajunen and Max Seeck capture this look at a family struggling with their past, while glimpsing at how it has affected their present. Flashbacks capture the souring relationship between the family and its patriarch, as tensions rise from his domineering nature. While Matilda and Mikko want to sell the location of such bad memories, Maria is wary of the environmental damage that may be caused by the buyer.
As the story builds atmosphere, the familial unit is captured in believable ways which are effectively played by the cast. What’s less effective is when the dialogue becomes heavy-handed, particularly with a jarring monologue regarding Mikko’s profession. The siblings’ trauma resurfaces in sinister ways, as they are affected by past ghosts across a slow-burning and often meandering tale. This dramatically changes gears in the last fifteen minutes, as eco-horror takes prominence across this mismatched tale. Credit is deserved for the haunting final reveal, although one wishes there was a steadier journey to that point.
**½ 2.5/5
The Knocking screened as part of this year’s Frightfest London. The film comes to digital platforms on 4 September
