Ana de Armas has quickly become a well-known actress in Hollywood. She started with smaller parts in films like Blade Runner 2049 and No Time to Die, and last year she received an Oscar nomination for her role in Blonde. But her most exciting project yet might be Ballerina: From the World of John Wick. The movie was already engaging, but scenes with Keanu Reeves, reprising his role as John Wick, really elevated it. This wasn’t the first time de Armas and Reeves have worked together, though – they’ve shared the screen several times before.
Keanu Reeves became famous for The Matrix films, but the next ten years saw a string of unsuccessful movies like The Day the Earth Stood Still, 47 Ronin, and Man of Tai Chi. His career got back on track in 2014 with John Wick, though before that, he appeared in director Eli Roth’s Knock Knock. This film also marked Ana de Armas’s first role in an English-language movie, helping to launch her Hollywood career. You can currently watch this home invasion thriller for free on Pluto.
Knock Knock is a steamy thriller about a man, Evan (Keanu Reeves), who finds his weekend alone turned upside down when two mysterious women, Bel (Ana de Armas) and Genesis (Lorenza Izzo), arrive at his door during a storm. Initially offering them shelter, Evan soon finds himself caught up in their increasingly suggestive advances, eventually succumbing to temptation. However, the morning after reveals that the consequences of his actions are far more serious than just infidelity.
Maybe de Armas and Reeves Would Rather You Forget ‘Knock Knock’
Erotic thrillers were popular in the 1980s and 90s, with films like Fatal Attraction even receiving Oscar nominations. But by the late 90s and into the 2000s, the genre had become less common. The 2010 film Black Swan proved that these kinds of movies still had an impact, and showed that a thriller didn’t need explicit sexual content to be considered erotic.
Before making Knock Knock, Eli Roth had directed several intentionally over-the-top horror films like Cabin Fever, Hostel, and The Green Inferno, all of which focused on graphic violence. Because Knock Knock starred Keanu Reeves and followed the popular thriller You’re Next, viewers expected a suspenseful and well-made film that would allow Roth to demonstrate his talent. However, the movie lacked nuance and became known for its ridiculous moments, including a scene where a character compares sex to “free f*cking pizza,” which quickly became a popular meme.
While some people enjoyed the movie, Knock Knock generally wasn’t well-received. Critics gave it a 37% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences were even less impressed, with a score of just 19%.
A Chance at Redemption
Lionsgate
Fortunately, the film Knock Knock gave Ana de Armas a crucial break into Hollywood, leading to roles in several well-known movies, including Knives Out, which received a 97% positive rating. Keanu Reeves also benefited greatly from Knock Knock; the following three John Wick films were highly acclaimed, and even his long-awaited sequel, Bill & Ted Face the Music, earned an 83% positive score from critics.
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Honestly, the movie they were in didn’t really let either of these actors shine like they could, but watching them together is still fascinating – it’s cool to see how much more famous they’ve become since then. Just a heads-up though, I wouldn’t bother with their 2016 film, Exposed. It wasn’t well-received, with only 8% of critics giving it a positive review.
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2026-02-24 03:35