“Knock Knock” is a psychological thriller film directed by Eli Roth and released in 2015. The movie tells the story of Evan Webber (played by Keanu Reeves), a successful architect and family man who is left alone for the weekend while his wife and children go on a trip.
During a stormy night, Evan hears a knock on his door and finds two young and attractive women, Genesis and Bel (played by Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas), who claim to be lost and seeking shelter. Despite his initial reluctance, Evan lets them inside to use his phone and wait for a ride.
However, as the night progresses, the two women become increasingly seductive and aggressive towards Evan, leading to a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Evan is initially hesitant but eventually gives in to their advances, leading to a series of disturbing and violent events that threaten to destroy his marriage, career, and even his life.
As the film progresses, it becomes clear that the two women have a sinister agenda and are not who they initially claimed to be. “Knock Knock” explores themes of temptation, morality, and the consequences of giving in to one’s desires.
Cast
The cast of “Knock Knock” includes:
- Keanu Reeves as Evan Webber
- Lorenza Izzo as Genesis
- Ana de Armas as Bel
- Ignacia Allamand as Karen Alvarado, Evan’s wife
- Aaron Burns as Louis
- Colleen Camp as Vivian, Evan’s assistant
- Dan Baily as Jake, Karen’s brother
These are the main actors in the film.
Production
“Knock Knock” is a 2015 American psychological thriller film directed by Eli Roth and written by Eli Roth, Nicolas Lopez, and Guillermo Amoedo. The film was produced by a team of producers including Eli Roth, Colleen Camp, Cassian Elwes, Peter Fruchtman, Tim Degraye, and Miguel Asensio.
The film was shot on location in Santiago, Chile, with a production budget of approximately $3 million. The shooting of the film began in late April 2014 and wrapped up in May 2014.
The film features a soundtrack composed by Manuel Riveiro and various artists. The film’s cinematography was done by Antonio Quercia, and the editing was done by Diego Macho Gomez.
“Knock Knock” was distributed by Lionsgate and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015. The film was released theatrically on October 9, 2015, and received mixed reviews from critics. Despite the mixed response, the film performed well at the box office, grossing over $6 million worldwide.
Reviews
“Knock Knock” received mixed reviews from critics upon its release. Here’s a selection of reviews from major publications:
- “The Hollywood Reporter” praised the film’s performances and tension, writing: “It’s a deliciously guilty pleasure, with the gorgeous duo of Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas making a striking impression and Reeves handling the physical demands with aplomb.”
- “Variety” criticized the film’s lack of originality, writing: “In Knock Knock, Eli Roth tries to transform a grindhouse premise into an upscale psychosexual thriller, but it’s the same old grindhouse premise, dressed up in a different bow.”
- “The Guardian” gave the film a negative review, stating: “The film is a so-so exercise in nasty home-invasion horror, with the less-than-engaging Izzo and de Armas struggling to make their mark, and Reeves delivering an unremarkable performance as the suburbanite at bay.”
- “IndieWire” was critical of the film’s character development and writing, stating: “At its core, ‘Knock Knock’ is a bland and superficial attempt to fuse eroticism, horror, and morality into a single tawdry potboiler.”
Despite the mixed reviews, “Knock Knock” was a commercial success, grossing over $6 million worldwide on a $3 million budget. The film has also gained a cult following among fans of Eli Roth’s work and the horror genre.
Where are they now?
Here’s a brief update on what some of the key cast and crew members of “Knock Knock” are up to now:
- Eli Roth (Director/Co-Writer/Producer): Since “Knock Knock,” Eli Roth has directed the horror films “The Green Inferno” and “Cabin Fever” (2016), and executive produced the horror series “Hemlock Grove” (2013-2015). He also co-wrote and directed the action-thriller “Death Wish” (2018) starring Bruce Willis.
- Keanu Reeves (Evan Webber): Keanu Reeves has continued to have a successful career in Hollywood, with notable roles in films such as “John Wick,” “The Matrix Resurrections,” and “Bill and Ted Face the Music.” He is set to reprise his role in the upcoming fourth “Matrix” film.
- Lorenza Izzo (Genesis): Lorenza Izzo has appeared in several films since “Knock Knock,” including “The House with a Clock in Its Walls” (2018) and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019). She also had a recurring role in the Amazon Prime series “Mozart in the Jungle” (2014-2018).
- Ana de Armas (Bel): Ana de Armas has become a rising star in Hollywood since “Knock Knock,” with notable roles in films such as “Blade Runner 2049,” “Knives Out,” and “No Time to Die.” She is set to star in the upcoming biopic “Blonde,” where she will portray Marilyn Monroe.
- Ignacia Allamand (Karen Alvarado): Ignacia Allamand has appeared in several films since “Knock Knock,” including “The Green Inferno” and “The Stranger” (2015). She has also had recurring roles in Chilean TV series such as “Graduados” and “Los 80.”
- Aaron Burns (Louis): Aaron Burns has continued to work with Eli Roth, appearing in his films “The Green Inferno” and “Death Wish.” He has also worked as a writer, director, and producer on several independent films.
- Manuel Riveiro (Composer): Manuel Riveiro has continued to compose music for film and TV, including the Chilean series “Los Archivos del Cardenal” and the documentary “Paco de Lucía: La Búsqueda.”
Overall, the cast and crew of “Knock Knock” have continued to have active careers in the film industry, working on a variety of projects in different capacities.
Fun facts
- Keanu Reeves’s character in “Knock Knock” was originally written to be in his 50s, but Reeves suggested making him younger, so he was rewritten as being in his 40s.
- The two actresses who played the roles of Genesis and Bel, Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas, became good friends during the filming of the movie and later worked together again in the movie “Blade Runner 2049”.
- The film was shot in only 14 days, making it one of the shortest shoots of Eli Roth’s career.
- The film’s original title was “The Visitors,” but it was changed to “Knock Knock” to avoid confusion with other movies and TV shows with similar titles.
- The movie’s ending was changed from the original script after Keanu Reeves suggested an alternative, more ambiguous ending.
- Eli Roth said that the inspiration for the movie came from the classic horror film “Death Game” (1977), which also features a similar storyline of two women tormenting a man.
- Keanu Reeves did most of his own stunts in the movie, including a scene where he falls down a flight of stairs.
Box office
“Knock Knock” was made with a production budget of approximately $3 million. The film was released theatrically in the United States on October 9, 2015, and grossed a total of $6.3 million worldwide.
In the United States, the film opened to $2,472,987 in its opening weekend, ranking sixth at the box office. The film went on to gross $3,834,890 in the United States and $2,475,626 in international markets, for a worldwide total of $6,310,516.
While “Knock Knock” was not a huge box office success, it was still profitable due to its low production budget. The film’s success was also aided by strong performances in international markets, particularly in countries such as Brazil, Russia, and Mexico.
