Although Baba Yaga makes for a great horror creature in "Don't Knock Twice", the film doesn't quite portray an accurate version of the historical Slavic legends. "Don't Knock Twice" embraces the dark side of the mythological figure and how stories depict her as devouring people, mainly children, but her nature is not as simple as the film suggests.
Many Slavic people believe Baba Yaga to be a shaman of sorts, someone people in old legends even sought out when "looking for wisdom, knowledge, truth or help" (Myths and Legends). The old, wise witch is generally shown as living in a magical house in the woods, and "when someone enters the hut, they live or die depending on what they say and do." As a figure of great power, many Slavic people think that Baba Yaga must be respected, and she tends to represent respect for nature as well. While she may be capable of villainous things, the Baba Yaga of legend doesn't hunt down people, and she will only turn dangerous if you are ill-intentioned, disrespectful, or malicious in any way. Depending on the visitor's actions, Baba Yaga may either help them greatly, or like in "Don't Knock Twice", eat them.
In "Don't Knock Twice", Baba Yaga is a demonic creature with no morals or reasoning behind its actions. It wants to enslave and devour as many people as possible, and that's about it. The film simplifies the legend to a degree, but it works very well, creating a truly frightening demon worthy of some intense nightmares.
