What to Watch This Week: 'Knock at the Cabin,' 'Harlem' Season 2, 'Pamela, A Love Story, and More

We selected the best offers from the TV shows and movies that were released this week, from 'Knock at the Cabin,' to 'Harlem' Season 2 and more.

M Night Shyamalan Interview
Universal Pictures

Image via Universal Pictures

M Night Shyamalan Interview

It’s February and this month is already looking promising with its movie and TV releases. This week in particular is an exciting one, for both streaming and theaters. 

Universal Studios hosted a screening of Knock at the Cabin, hosted by director M. Night Shyamalan and Pete Davidson, and Complex was there to watch the film and cover the event. Netflix also hosted a screening and Q&A at The Paris Theater in New York to showcase their latest documentary film Pamela, A Love Story, about Pamela Anderson’s life and story, which was produced by her son, Brandon Lee, whom she shares with ex-husband Tommy Lee.

I binge-watched Season 2 of one of my favorite shows, Prime Video’s Harlem in one weekend, and while it’s easy to make a strong first season, they made this one even better. Disney+ is also ushering in Black History Month with the addition of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to the streaming service. Now you can openly cry in peace in the comfort of your own home.

Check out our list of new releases that dropped this week, and follow up next week for more.

'Knock at the Cabin'

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When: Friday, Feb. 3

Where: In theaters

Sometimes it’s great to watch a movie that does what it says on the can. Take Knock at the Cabin, the latest release from M. Night Shyamalan, which is surprising in how unsurprising it is. Adapted from Paul G. Tremblay’s 2018 novel, The Cabin at the End of the World, the movie unfolds almost exactly as described by its gripping trailer: Fathers Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) are vacationing at the titular cabin with their adopted daughter Wen (a stellar Kristen Cui) when they’re visited by a mystery trio (Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint, and Abby Quinn) led by Leonard (Dave Bautista) who tells the two they must willingly sacrifice one of their family members to prevent an impending apocalypse. 

Tense and gripping, Knock is a full exploration of this knotty concept, never shying away from the implications of what it may bring. Eric and Andrew can’t believe what Leonard and his group are saying are true because it all sounds absurd—especially in our modern world where much of our recent history is defined by the impossible becoming possible. But as the movie continues and evidence mounts to prove them wrong, the two have their faith questioned. How Night frames his subjects and moves the camera manages to, at first, make the cabin and the surrounding forest feel spacious. As the walls metaphorically close in, the framing is tight and constricting. The result helps to wring every bit of tension out of an already fraught situation and is highly effective.

But the real star of Knock at the Cabin is Dave Bautista, who cements himself as one of our most dynamic, kinetic, and versatile movie stars. Based on pure physicality alone, Leonard is a menacing presence, but how Bautista works to humanize Leonard creates a staggeringly effective juxtaposition that Night coyly teases out during the movie’s duration. Is Leonard going to hurt Wen, Eric, and Andrew? Is he who he really says he is? That layer of tension sandwiched on top of the larger existential query creates quite an affecting tale. The movie’s overall plot may feel straightforward at times, but Bautista’s densely layered performance is far from ordinary and elevates Knock at the Cabin into something far more memorable. —William Goodman

'Harlem' Season 2

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When: Friday, Feb. 3

Where: Prime Video

I am a diehard Sex and the City fan. I am fresh off a rewatch of all the seasons of the famed and beloved HBO series but as soon as the credits rolled in after the finale, there was a deep void in my mind and heart for a story about a group of women being the full-fledged incredible beings we are. The only other show that has made me feel even remotely close to that was Season 1 of Prime Video’s Harlem. Not only does the show focus on four hilarious, dynamic, and successful women—Camille Parks (Meagan Good), Tye Reynolds (Jerrie Johnson), Quinn Joseph (Grace Byers), and Angie Wilson (Shoniqua Shandai)—but it also takes place in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in New York City, and showcases the fullness and the diversity we actually see in these NYC streets. 

They are all careerwomen, living eccentric and fulfilling lives in the city, and while some are still chasing after their dreams, others are already living in their dreams-turned-reality. Sure they also focus on their romantic and sex lives but in Season 2, it gets even deeper than that. The women face the realities of mental health, loneliness, and the idea of motherhood, all while maintaining the message of how important friendships and sisterhood are in women’s lives. But this show is for everyone though, not just women, so don’t be afraid to hit play. 

Good is at her best on this show, and Empire alum Byers’ character arc during Season 2 is remarkable and really showcases her depths as an actress. All in all, Harlem Season 2 was well worth the wait. The first two episodes are out now, but if you can avoid spoilers, let the episodes pile up and watch it all in one sitting. You won’t regret it. —Karla Rodriguez

'Pamela, A Love Story'

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When: Tuesday, Jan. 31

Where: Netflix

Perhaps I was too young to recognize and witness Pamela Anderson’s impact when she was at the height of her career. Then again, maybe I wasn’t given the opportunity to experience all that before her downfall cut her time on top short. Netflix made the right move by allowing the actress to tell her full story through the documentary film Pamela, A Love Story, making up for Hulu’s irresponsibility for attempting to tell Anderson’s story without her consent in their limited series Pam & Tommy last year. I will admit that I watched a few episodes of the show, but I couldn’t go further (despite a strong performance from the cast) after Anderson made it clear that she had no involvement in the project. The series exploited the sex tape scandal that ruined Anderson’s career and her life, and the Netflix doc fully shows how the show’s release served as a second violation to a woman who had lost the power to tell her own story.

Saying that it ruined her life sounds dramatic but the publicizing of the stolen private tape was the catalyst for the end of her marriage to Tommy Lee, a lifelong misfortune with love, a halt in her career, and subjected her to humiliation from every comedian who had access to a microphone in the 90s. (The Netflix film really serves as a reminder of how awful and cruel some comedians like Jay Leno can be.) Pamela, A Love Story goes back to her small-town childhood and shows the makings of one of the most beautiful and captivating women the world has ever seen, while also showing a loving and human side to Anderson that I had never seen before. In the doc, Anderson is funny, relatable, honest, and oftentimes broken, which is not how we imagine celebrities to be. Let this be a reminder that we all win when we give women the opportunity to tell their own stories how they see fit. —Karla Rodriguez

'Freeridge'

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When: Thursday, Feb. 2

Where: Netflix

Freeridge is a spin-off of Netflix’s cult-favorite On My Block. Similar to its predecessor, the show follows four teen friends in their day-to-day lives as they work to reverse what they believe to be a curse after a peculiar old box they found at a yard sale seems to bring misfortune into their lives. I went into Freeridge expecting the type of lighthearted coming-of-age comedy that has become part of Netflix’s DNA, but the show proved to be a bit heavier than that. The show stars Abbott Elementary’s Keyla Monterroso Mejia as Gloria and Bryana Salaz as her younger sister Ines. While they seem to be borderline enemies, the truth is that they are both still reeling from the death of their mother and are now having to deal with the possibility of losing their dad, too. Big and little sister relationships can be hard to manage, especially when the firstborn takes on the responsibility of being a caretaker, but at the core of it all, the girls really rely on each other, and their crazy friends, to figure it all out. I hope this show doesn’t have the same fate as others on the streaming service with a diverse cast like Gentefied. If you were a fan of that show and On My Block, then give Freeridge because it is right up your alley. Happy viewing! —Karla Rodriguez

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