The following contains discussions of sexual assault.
10 years before the release ofFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina, Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas actually starred in an erotic thriller together calledKnock Knock.The newBallerinamovie has earned a decent debut Rotten Tomatoes scoreof 77%, following Ana de Armas’ introduction to thefranchise as the assassin, Eve. TheJohn Wickspinoff moviealso features a Keanu Reeves cameo as John Wick, with many critics praising his performance. However,Ballerinais not the first film de Armas and Reeves have appeared in together, making now the perfect time to revisit their previous collaboration.
Erotic thrillerswere at the height of their popularity from the 1980s to the early 2000s, with iconic films likeFatal AttractionandBasic Instinct(which both starred erotic thriller veteran Michael Douglas), and Stanley Kubrick’sEyes Wide Shut. Therefore, it is quite strange that Eli Roth’sKnock Knockwas released in 2015, especially considering Keanu Reeves had just debuted as John Wick the year prior. Nevertheless,Knock Knockis certainly an interesting movie, despite its less-than-stellar Rotten Tomatoes score, and offers a first look at an Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves collaboration a decade beforeJohn Wick’s Ballerina.
Keanu Reeves & Ana de Armas Starred In 2015’s Knock Knock
Eli Roth’s Movie Was A Remake Of 1977’s Death Game
Knock Knockwas inspired by 1977’sDeath Game, an exploitation movie by Peter S. Traynor, with the plot very closely mirroring the original film, apart from a few modern touches. The movies followa devoted husband being sexually coerced by two party-going young women, who seek shelter at his house during a rainstorm, only for them to torture, rape, and subsequently frame him. However,Knock Knockhas some slight deviations from the original movie, following an architect called Evan Webber (Keanu Reeves), modernizing the concept with social media, changing the ending, and having a subplot surrounding Webber’s wife’s art.
Eli Roth’s dedication to remakingDeath Gamewas even reflected in the involvement of the original stars and creator of the 1977 movie
Eli Roth’s dedication to remakingDeath Gamewas even reflected in the involvement of the original stars and creator of the 1977 movie, as Traynor, as well as actors Sondra Locke and Colleen Camp, had a hand in producingKnock Knock. Unfortunately, this commitment also reflected the original film’s reception, as both movies received mixed-to-negative reviews for their misguided addition to the thriller genre.Knock Knockearned a 37% Tomatometer and 19% Popcornmeter, grossing $6.3 million on a $2 million budget. However, thisKeanu Reeves movie definitely deserves more love, especially considering its significance for Ana de Armas.
Knock Knock Was Ana de Armas’ First Movie English-Speaking Role
The Movie Foreshadowed Ana de Armas & Keanu Reeves’ Ballerina Future
Born in Havana,Ana de Armas is a Cuban-Spanish actress who starred in many Spanish-language productions before her Hollywood breakout in the late 2010s. Armas rose to notoriety among Spanish audiences for starring as the character Carolina in the mystery drama thriller TV seriesEl Internadofor six seasons, from 2007 to 2010. WhileAna de Armas has since appeared in many famous movies,Knock Knockactually marked de Armas’ first English-speaking movie role in Hollywood, making her role in the Keanu Reeves film somewhat of a personal milestone for the actress, after having a long career in Spanish roles.
$6.3 million
72% Tomatometer, 93% Popcornmeter*
*Debut scores, subject to change
Interestingly,asKnock Knockwas Ana de Armas’ first English-speaking movie role, she learned all her lines phonetically. Regardless, this didn’t affect her performance much, as de Armas still played a convincing role as Bel in the film. Furthermore, just one year afterKnock Knock, Ana de Armas teamed up with Keanu Reeves once again in 2016’s thriller,Exposed. Following these two collaborations, the actress had a breakthrough role inBlade Runner 2049as Joi andKnives Outas Marta Cabrera, demonstrating her skills in Hollywood, which even led to athree-movie collaboration with Ana de Armas and Chris Evans.
Why Critics & Audiences Gave Knock Knock Such A Low Rotten Tomatoes Score
People Expected More From Keanu Reeves After 2014’s John Wick
Knock Knockearned considerably low scores from both critics and audiences alike, showcasing itself as one of Keanu Reeves’ lesser appreciated movies. According to variousRotten Tomatoesreviews,Knock Knockis “a dull homage to an exploitation flick,” with some even declaring it to be “awful” due to its poor writing, and its only redeeming factor is Keanu Reeves’ acting prowess. That being said,there are others who appreciatedKnock Knockfor its “uncomfortable” topics, stating that the film was better appreciated as a satirical comedythan the serious thriller that was marketed with the original film,Death Game.
TheJohn Wickfranchise has earned over $1 billion at the box office worldwide.
With Keanu Reeves starring in 2014’sJohn Wickone year prior, audiences expected something much more impressive for his next role. Grossing $86 million and spawning a franchise,John Wickshowed Reeves at his best - a highly skilled yet grounded assassin - demonstrating a brilliant mix of action and comedy. Therefore,Knock Knock’s left-field erotic thriller genre and Keanu Reeves’ “sacrificial lamb” character were rather jarring toJohn Wickfans. Nevertheless,Knock Knockis just one of thoselesser-known thrillers that deserves to be seenat least once, especially as it foreshadows de Armas and Reeves’John Wickfuture collaboration.
Despite being labeled an erotic thriller,Knock Knockis an unexpectedly camp movie by Keanu Reeves
Despite being labeled an erotic thriller,Knock Knockis an unexpectedly camp movie by Keanu Reeves. In an interview withComplexin 2015, Reeves cited his character as, “one of the reasons that made the script and story so attractive.”With Reeves’ further comments about the “fun elements” to the film, and his comedic line deliveries, it becomes clear thatKnock Knockmay have suffered misleading marketing, as Reeves actively celebrates moments that reviewers disliked for being “misguided.” Yet, even stranger, it is surprising that this low-budget movie is actually darker than anything in Keanu Reeves’ assassin franchise.
Knock Knock Is Darker Than Anything In John Wick
Eli Roth’s Erotic Thriller Has Some Dark Moments
Considering justhow many people are killed in theJohn Wickmovies, it comes as a bit of a shock thatKnock Knockis actually darker than a lot of elements in Keanu Reeves’ famous franchise. The reason for this is because, whileJohn Wickfollows a story about the deadly world of assassins - a world which frequently includes murder, betrayal, and torture - it tends to stay within its action genre, straying only slightly into comedy at times. Therefore,the themes present inJohn Wickare expected and commonplace for its genre, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Conversely,Knock Knockdelivers a much more psychologically stimulating premise, discussing heavy topics that aren’t as commonly explored. Reeves’ complex character causes his own downfall through his infidelity, yet viewers are still made to sympathize, especially when Bel and Genesis sexually assault him and then post the act on social media, forever tainting his image. Furthermore, home invasion-style movies like Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas’Knock Knockhave a deeper psychological impact compared to action movies likeJohn Wick, as they directly challenge audiences’ perceptions on the safety of their own homes, making them considerably darker in some ways.
