THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Paul Tremblay

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

Within the pages of Paul Tremblay’s novel there is not just a story about the impending end of the world but also, a story of how we, as humans, would potentially deal with the notion that a single sacrifice could stop the apocalypse.

Eric, Andrew, and their seven year old daughter Wen, an ordinary family, have decided to spend some quality time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, while ditching the constant connection to the grid.

It is a beautiful sunny day, as young Wen gleefully catches grass hoppers in the tall grass to study them, their getaway becomes a modern horror story when their idyllic vacation is interrupted by four, weapon wielding, individuals who have a message for them: Sacrifice one of themselves for the greater good or refuse and the world will end.

Having no way to call for help and no weapons of their own to defend themselves, they are forced to try and negotiate their survival while bound to chairs whilst coming to terms with how dire their circumstance have suddenly become. As time ticks by, Eric and Andrew begin to question what their reality is and if the claims of the four intruders are valid or if they are just pawns in a larger game.

Set completely within the confines of the cabin, except for a series of flashbacks, The Cabin at the End of the World reads more like a play than a novel. Making it easy for the reader to visualize every breath and movement of the characters, for better or worse.

As the story progresses, our hero couple and their child begin to play a game of cat and mouse that rarely gives the reader a chance to breathe. Tremblay has put the pedal to the metal from the first encounter of the newcomers, to such a breakneck speed that it races to a climax that will leave the reader breathless, and most likely in a state of shock, by the time the last word is read.

No matter how you feel about apocalyptic stories, The Cabin at the End of the World is one that is worth reading simply because at it’s core, it is simply a story about what lengths one will go to to protect their family and perhaps save the world in the process.

Perhaps that is why is it no surprise that legendary director M. Night Shyamalan chose to adapt it for his next feature film being released on February 3, 2023.

TRIGGER WARNING: The Cabin at the End of the World contains instances of severe violence, descriptions of gore and intense moments that may be difficult for some readers to read.