The two leads in Don’t Knock Twice, the new film from Caradog W. James, have had distinctly different entrance points into genre cinema. Katee Sackhoff has starred in commercial horrors such as Oculus and White Noise: The Light. On the other hand, Lucy Boynton has featured in two staunchly independent films by Oz Perkins; February and I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House. Don’t Knock Twice meets somewhere in the middle.
Former addict Jess (Sackhoff) is ready to get her life back on track and reconnect with her now teenage daughter Chloe (Boynton). Chloe has grown up in care and is reluctant to reconcile. However, after she knocks twice on the door of a dead woman’s house, she awakes a malevolent presence intent on causing her harm. She takes refuge in Jess’ huge country mansion, but some things you just can’t outrun.
Don’t Knock Twice is a small film with big aspirations. Given the low budget, James has done a great job with the visuals. Unfortunately, the narrative is very weak. The script doesn’t allow the tension to build sufficiently, despite the best efforts of the actors. As a result, the jumps are just as likely to miss as hit. Unashamedly full of clichés, Don’t Knock Twice is a serviceable horror. Great visuals being undermined by a dodgy script.
Don’t Knock Twice is in Cinemas 31 March and On Demand & DVD 3 April.
