By GRACE DETWILER
Starring Cecilia Milocco, Albin Grenholm, Ville Virtanen
Written by Emma Broström
Directed by Frida Kempff
Yellow Veil Pictures
Anyone who’s ever lived in an apartment building will know well the unique agony of hearing a repetitive banging noise with no discernible source that keeps you up at night. But what if that banging was more of a knocking? Maybe in morse code? And accompanied by a woman’s muffled shouts of pain? In the slow-burn Swedish psychological thriller KNOCKING (2021), streaming on ARROW in the US and Canada as of March 11, that is just what Molly (Cecilia Milocco) experiences after her release from a mental health treatment center following the death of her partner.
Directed by experienced documentarian Frida Kempff (Winter Buoy) and adapted from a Johan Theorin short story by Emma Broström, KNOCKING is an effective and compelling 78-minute ride that sucks the viewer deep into the vortex of Molly’s troubled psyche. Despite adding another entry to the oversaturated sub-genre of ‘gaslighting’ horror, KNOCKING possesses a moving message about the specific discrimination experienced by mentally ill women in interpersonal relationships, as well as in society at large. As revealed in artful flashbacks to before her institutionalization, Molly’s mental breakdown was triggered by the tragic death of the woman she loved. The trauma of losing her partner haunts her even after her ‘recovery’ is complete. Throughout KNOCKING, it remains relatively unclear which sounds of distress are coming from the unknown woman being victimized in an apartment above Molly’s, and which sounds are in her head alone.
With increasing desperation, Molly attempts to gain the attention of her neighbors, the building manager, and the authorities in order to rescue the mystery woman. Their condescending and disbelieving attitudes towards her only increase KNOCKING’s well-built tension. Are they deceiving her, or is she delusional? As the clues continue to build up, Molly becomes convinced that an unhappy young couple in an apartment above hers is the source of the ‘knocking.’
Despite its literary origins, KNOCKING’s story is likely the film’s weakest link. The technical aspects excel, however, most notably the lighting and cinematography – the latter of which was skilfully executed by Hannes Krantz (The Unthinkable). KNOCKING also provides an intriguing glimpse for international audiences into Swedish social issues to do with mental health treatment, housing, and policing. The Swedish language itself also contributes heavily to the film’s success, as the sound of the word ‘knocking’ in Swedish, Knackningar, provides an onomatopoeia that drastically enhances the title’s effect.
The metaphor of grief ‘knocking’ like an unwanted guest at the door of Molly’s mind is a powerful one. The conclusion of KNOCKING remains ambiguous about the truth of Molly’s experience. The proof is never seen, only heard. Whether or not the film is ultimately satisfying is a question with an answer that will undoubtedly differ from viewer to viewer. But there is no doubting the talent of Kempff or lead actress Cecilia Milocco – who effortlessly carries the twisting narrative on her slender shoulders.
KNOCKING premiered at Sundance 2021 and is currently available to stream on ARROW and Shudder.
