Sundance Film Festival 2021 Reviews: Knocking

Knocking is an indie horror movie that will have audiences in suspense from beginning to end, wondering if they themselves are going crazy.

Knocking
Cecilia Milocco appears in Knocking by Frida Kempff, an official selection of the Midnight section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Hannes Krantz.

Horror movies are some of my favorite movies — especially Indie horror films. Sometimes a big budget can effect the feel of a horror movie and go a bit to overboard. Knocking is a great example of a lower budget film that can suck you right in and have you completely invested from beginning to end. 

In this film there is a woman named Molly that we know to be on medication, and to have suffered a great tragedy, who hears knocking on the ceiling of her apartment. She becomes obsessed and figures it is Morse code, writing messages down on any papers she can find. She convinces herself that someone in the apartment building is in trouble and sets out to find her. 

The longer this goes on, the less people believe her, and the more people thing she is crazy. This is one of those movies that started to make me think I was going insane myself. The cinematography stands out in certain moments where we see her staring at walls, peaking around corners — but especially a certain hallway scene as all her neighbors seem to close in on her, calling her crazy.

At one point while watching, my daughter knocked on my office door and I jumped a mile — which shows how into this movie I was. I was completely enthralled, in suspense, and needing to know what was going to happen next. 

My biggest issue with Knocking is that I wanted more of a backstory for Molly. While we do eventually get most of her story, I needed more. That being said, the fact that I was in the dark for so long did help build the tension.

This movie is a bit slow to start, but gets into the good stuff quickly enough to keep most entertained. It should be mentioned that this is a foreign film with captions, but that didn’t bother me at all. It was easy to follow along with. The length is perfect allowing almost no time for the audience to get distracted or bored.  

Knocking kept me on my toes from beginning to end. I was right there with the lead character — not sure if I was going crazy or not. It never went off track and the payoff is there in the end for those that allow themselves to get completely invested.

About Knocking

What. Is. That. Noise. When Molly hears knocking coming from the ceiling in her new apartment, she naturally searches for the source. The upstairs neighbors don’t know what she’s talking about and dismiss her with cool indifference.

Is this all in her mind? After all, she’s still processing a traumatic event that left her mentally unwell, and the unprecedented heat wave isn’t helping her think clearly. As the knocking intensifies and gives way to a woman’s cries, Molly becomes consumed with finding out the truth. Could it be Morse code? Is someone trapped? And more importantly, why doesn’t anyone care?

Hot this week

The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 Episodes 4-6 Recap

Vox Machina faces toxic family drama, high-stakes library heists, and a devastatingly dark cult reveal in three unforgettable episodes

Olivia Rodrigo: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love [Review]

Olivia Rodrigo's 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love' is a tragic album that tracks a relationship from its obsessive start to its devastating end.

“For Better Or For Worse, It’s Mostly True”: This Tempting Madess Director Interview

This Tempting Madness director Jennifer Montgomery opens up about the wild, twisty, and deeply personal true story behind her psychological thriller.

House of the Dragon Prepares for a Darker Season 3

House of the Dragon Season 3 enters a dark Shakespearean tragedy. Get ready for the massive Battle of the Gullet right out of the gate

Epik High 2026 North American Tour Dates

Epik High has announced their long-awaited return to North America. Their first tour since 2024 spans twelve North American cities this Fall.

Related Articles

Popular Categories