If you told me going into King Knight that it was going to star Matthew Gray Gubler as a charming hippie witch in a movie about self-discovery I wouldn’t have entirely known what to think. The movie is a hippie witch soul searching vibe, that makes the audience think back to their high school days and how far or how not far they’ve come since leaving that depth of personal hell. King Knight certainly isn’t the horror sci-fi action thriller we expect but it definitely brings you on a spiritual journey that is worth the pay off.
The film focuses on Thorn played by Matthew Gray Gubler and his girlfriend Willow played by Angela Sarafyan as they lead a coven of people who rely on self-love, acceptance, and everything that is more or less welcomed in this world. Things take a turn for the worst however, when Willow realizes that everything Thorn has told her and the coven is a lie, and he was really your typical high school jock, and this fact forces him out of the coven and on a journey of self-discovery.
What really shines in King Knight is the underlying story that the film tells from writer and director Richard Bates Jr. There is so much poison in this world, especially now, and to see a film that just grounds you without doing anything truly profound or earth shattering is such a pleasant change of pace from the chaos. The direction and storytelling of letting go of your past, and becoming who and what you want to be in the future is touching and extraordinary. It is a rare occurrence that we get to change who we are create a new life for ones self, and this film allows the audience to see that even in the bleakest times, it is possible.
What really shines throughout King Knight is the performance from Matthew Gray Gubler, as he gives it everything he has and then some. The performance is so touching and heart warming that it completely engulfs the audience and forces them to stay true to themselves and the character and get lost in his world of self-discovery. It is rare for such a performance to come from something so unexpected, but King Knight truly captures that essence and delivers it with a powerful message. Be who you want to be, not who you’re expected to be.
