Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Knock at the Cabin!Knock at the Cabin's ending includes Eric claiming he saw a figure in the mirror that completely changes his outlook on the apocalypse. M. Night Shyamalan returns to the idea of the world ending with his 2023 movie, which follows a family of three whose weekend away is interrupted by four strangers. Knock at the Cabin puts Eric (Jonathan Groff), Andrew (Ben Aldridge), and their adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) in a position to make an impossible decision: kill one member of their family or watch as the plagues descend upon the world that will wipe out the rest of humanity.

As usual for an M. Night Shyamalan movie, Knock at the Cabin leaves audiences guessing about whether the apocalyptic claims of Leonard (Dave Bautista) and his accomplices are real or part of a homophobic attack. While Eric and Andrew are initially in agreement that the world is not ending, Groff's character begins to change his perspective as the story unfolds. This leads to Knock at the Cabin's ending having Eric admit that he believes they do have the power to stop the apocalypse by sacrificing one of them. This is after Eric saw a figure in the mirror, but the identity and existence of the mysterious being were not revealed.

Related: Knock At The Cabin Cast & Character Guide

Eric Saw A Higher Power, But Not Necessarily God

Jonathan Groff Knock at the Cabin

The figure that Eric sees in the mirror in Knock at the Cabin is confirmed to be some higher power. He admits in the 2023 horror movie that he first saw the figure after Redmond's death and that he could feel the being in him at the end. The higher power that Eric sees in the mirror during Knock at the Cabin is the same one that led Leonard, Redmond, Sabrina, and Adriane to the cabin. Eric has a vision of the future just like the others who the higher power spoke to, but he saw a future where Andrew and Wen were safe together.

The true identity of Knock at the Cabin's figure that Eric sees in the mirror is a bit more ambiguous. It is mentioned that the group collectively does not share a specific set of religious beliefs. However, M. Night Shyamalan's thriller implies that the mirror figure in Knock at the Cabin could be Christianity's God or Jesus. Before Eric dies, he suggests that Leonard and the other attackers represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. That idea is pulled straight from the Bible, as these figures are mentioned in the book of Revelations as part of the description of how the apocalypse begins.

Knock At The Cabin’s Religious Allegories Explained

Redmond, Leonard, Sabrina, and Adriane in Knock at the Cabin.

The use of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Knock at the Cabin and the potential that God is the figure Eric saw in the mirror are more overt religious aspects of M. Night Shyamalan's movie. According to the Bible, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse represent a different part of the apocalypse: conquest, war, famine, and death. Knock at the Cabin noticeably changes the words used to describe each member and what they represent: malice, nurturing, healing, and guidance. This is part of the movie changing the Four Horsemen to be warnings who can prevent humanity's doom.

Ultimately, Knock at the Cabin's religious allegories are quite front-and-center. The movie is neither pro-religion nor anti-religion, as the story instead explores how people view faith and its place with humanity. Leonard and the other invaders represent people whose beliefs are tested for following what they believe their god wants them to do and becoming martyrs. Meanwhile, Eric and Andrew represent people who are not religious, reject any such beliefs, and ultimately realize through Eric seeing the mirror figure and Knock at the Cabin's ending that they were wrong.

More: Does Knock At The Cabin Have A Post-Credits Scene?