“The Cabin in the Woods” is a highly original and entertaining horror film that subverts the genre by cleverly playing with audience expectations. The film’s clever script and well-executed twists make for a refreshing and fun take on the standard horror film.
The film follows a group of five friends who travel to a remote cabin for a weekend getaway. However, the group soon realizes that they are not alone in the woods and that something sinister is stalking them.
While “The Cabin in the Woods” does have some jump scares, the real horror comes from the sense of unease and dread that the film creates. The film’s expert use of suspense and tension keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat throughout.
Although “The Cabin in the Woods” is a horror film, it is also very funny. The film’s clever script is full of witty banter and clever references. This makes the film even more enjoyable and adds another layer to its clever subversion of the genre.
This movie has currently set the horror world on fire with some pundits describing it as the greatest horror movie ever made. That’s a bold statement and not one this reviewer would even think of making unless i had a damn good reason for it. Well, after watching The Cabin in the Woods i can tell you that it’s not the greatest horror movie ever made but it is a damn good horror flick in many ways.
The movie’s story is impossible to describe in full without divulging major spoilers, though i can tell you that where the movie goes towards the end was a big surprise for me and definitely in a pleasant, WOW kind of way.
The movie is dark, creepy, eerie and down right nerve jangling, everything that a quality horror movie should be.
The production standard is very good and the movie’s gore and special effects are just top class. SPOILER! I especially liked the ‘blood bath’ scene at the end with the troopers.
The movie’s cast lead by Thor’s Chris Hemsworth is again top notch. The characters aren’t particularly memorable truth be told, though i did quite like Fran Kranz’s character Marty who’s a paranoid stoner and not the usual kind of character you’d find in an Evil Dead/ Friday the 13th-esque flick.
The Cabin in the Woods plays on a lot of horror movie conventions, it’s one of those flicks that takes the formula, turns it upside down and then inside out and by the time you’ve finished watching the flick your gut will be just as much turned inside out. It really is a class movie and it’s helped me put some faith back into Buffy writer, Joss Whedon. After Alien Resurrection that’s no small thing. To conclude The Cabin in the Woods is recommend without reserve. WATCH THIS!
“The Cabin in the Woods” is a highly original and entertaining horror film that is sure to please genre fans. The film’s clever script, well-executed twists, and sense of humor make it a must-see.
Synopsis
The Cabin in the Woods is a meta-textual deconstruction of the slasher genre, and has been described as a “love letter to horror”. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics, and was commercially successful, grossing $66 million worldwide.
In true horror movie fashion, a group of five college friends – Dana, Curt, Jules, Marty, and Holden – head off for a weekend at a remote cabin in the woods. It’s not long before they’re being picked off one-by-one by a monstrous creature, but The Cabin in the Woods is anything but a typical horror movie.
For one thing, the film is a love letter to the horror genre, playfully subverting and paying tribute to many of the conventions that have become synonymous with the genre. For another, it’s a meta-textual deconstruction of the slasher genre, cleverly playing with our expectations and preconceptions about what a horror movie should be.
The Cabin in the Woods is a witty, self-aware, and endlessly entertaining horror comedy that takes the genre to thrilling new heights.
Movie Details
Director: Drew Goddard
Writers: Drew Goddard, Joss Whedon
Actors: Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins
Release Year: 2011