Ballerina: The Epic Comeback of Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves!

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In the world of Hollywood, Keanu Reeves stands out as an exceptional figure. He’s not just a high-profile A-lister, but one who is universally admired for his genuine kindness. Take a look at how he transformed John Wick into a contemporary action blockbuster series. Creating a successful new franchise in today’s competitive action market is no small feat. Yet, Reeves’ character has managed to deliver us four films and even a spin-off TV show.

In the forthcoming movie titled “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina“, Ana de Armas will take center stage, although Keanu Reeves, aka Mr. Wick, is still expected to make an appearance. The film is anticipated to be successful and one of the notable collaborations between Reeves and de Armas. Surprisingly, these two actors have previously worked together in 2015’s “Knock Knock” and 2016’s “Exposed“. However, neither film garnered much critical or commercial acclaim, so it’s understandable if they aren’t remembered. Let’s revisit these lesser-known films. What caused them to underperform despite having well-established actors in the lead roles? And what else is there to learn about them?

What Happens in ‘Knock Knock’ and ‘Exposed’?

Ahead lies a reveal: “Knock Knock” is Eli Roth’s horror-thriller production, but surprisingly, its narrative is a modern adaptation of the 1977 film, “Death Game,” directed by Peter S. Traynor. The protagonist, Evan Webber (played by Reeves), is an architect who finds himself alone at home while his family vacations. Two mysterious women, Genesis and Bel (portrayed by Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas), unexpectedly show up during a storm seeking to use Evan’s phone for party inquiries.

However, instead of departing, they successfully charm Evan into a sexual encounter with them. Over time, they harass Evan, pushing him into more and more dire predicaments, culminating in the death of Colleen Camp’s character’s visiting assistant. Eventually, they unveil their real objectives. Colleen Camp, who played a role in the initial Death Game, is involved in this production as well, appearing in a brief scene.

In this horror-thriller titled Exposed, directed by Gee Malik Linton under an alias, we find Detective Scott Galban, played by Reeves, who delves into the events surrounding the demise of his partner, Detective Joey Cullen. However, fellow officers are apprehensive as they suspect that Cullen’s death might expose his past transgressions, such as assaulting a former convict. The narrative also revolves around Isabel, portrayed by de Armas, who claims to witness angels on the streets and befriends what she perceives as an abused young woman. Initially, these two narratives seem unrelated; however, it’s only when we discover Isabel’s link to Cullen’s criminal actions and its impact on her mental health that the connection becomes clear.

Why ‘Knock Knock’ and ‘Exposed’ Flopped

At first glance, Knock Knock and Exposed appear to be typical horror/thriller movies, offering nothing extraordinary but neither are abysmal either. However, both films had notable issues that led to their downfall. The misfortune of Knock Knock is more evident as most critics found its narrative and tone inconsistent. The plot was monotonous, and the tone was excessively theatrical. It attempted a satirical take on the home invasion horror genre, but failed when it tried to be serious. Keanu Reeves’ performance was commended, as well as the idea of not inviting strangers into your home. Knock Knock grossed approximately $6.3 million worldwide against its budget of $10 million. The film can now be streamed on Pluto TV, Peacock, and Roku.

In an intriguing twist of events, Exposed, originally conceived by director Linton under the title “Linton’s Original Story,” had a more captivating backstory. Originally planned as a bilingual drama similar to Pan’s Labyrinth, it aimed to tackle sensitive issues such as mass incarceration and violence against women and children. Unfortunately, Lionsgate executives misunderstood the project, perceiving it as just another Keanu Reeves cop drama. They pursued this interpretation during production, believing it would appeal to a wider audience. However, Linton strongly opposed these alterations and requested his name be removed from the final product. In response, the studio replaced Linton’s name with ‘Declan Dale’.

It might have been more beneficial for Lionsgate to stay with Linton’s version since the film, Exposed, only grossed a meager $270,000 at the box office and has a 8% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found the storyline dull and unoriginal, but they did compliment the acting. The movie can be streamed on platforms like Sling, Philo, Peacock, Prime Video, and Roku.

In a different wording, both “Knock Knock” and “Exposed” had significant issues in their storylines that outweighed any positive aspects they may have had. If they were made more recently, perhaps they would have been better received. Back then, Ana de Armas was not widely recognized; it wasn’t until 2019’s “Knives Out” that she became a well-known actress. Today, her fame might have led to a more successful outcome, but we can’t be certain. Here’s hoping that the next John Wick project will provide the collaborative success these two A-listers deserve. From the John Wick universe: Ballerina hits theaters on June 6.

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2025-06-08 00:32