REVIEW: The Cabin in the Woods

 There are no spoilers in this review.

PLOT: Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.


THE GOOD: Original. The Cabin in the Woods is my favorite film of the year so far. I think you all know how much I enjoy originality. Just look at my #1 favorite films from the last two years (Drive and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and you'll be able to see why I like this. This movie is unlike anything else ever done in the horror genre and that is a big deal. Is it a game-changer? Has it redefined the genre? Not at all. We're not going to start seeing more movies like this. Even if we did, they wouldn't be nearly as good. However, I do believe that we're going to see more original ideas in the slasher genre and hopefully that will be a good thing.

I think there are better things you could be watching a girl do through a one-way mirror instead of the Macarena.

Story. It takes a lot of talent to come up with a story like this, but it takes an even greater talent to polish the details within this movie that could have otherwise been ridiculous. I can't help but think of those cheesy SyFy original movies. You know the ones I'm talking about, Dinocroc vs. Supergator, Sharktopus, and The Killer Toaster. Okay, I made that last one up, but can you imagine what those movies would be like if they simply had Joss Whedon write and/or direct them. There is not a doubt in my mind that they would be quite watchable. Whedon and Drew Goddard have this special attention to detail. All of the characters in the film have a clear personality. Even the smaller ones. There's Holden who clearly sees the moral dilemma in all this. Then there's Lin who seems like she might have once been in Holden's shoes, but goes along with everything now. There really isn't any fluff here. Fans of Whedon's Buffy and Angel will be familiar with the humor in the film. Sometimes random (one word: unicorn), sometimes intentional, Whedon and Goddard keep the movie fun. It's hard for me to see this film as a clear slasher flick. There should be a genre called "Fun." This is a fun movie. Don't get me wrong, it's scary too with the proper amount of jump scares and just flat-out creep factor.

Message. There's nothing to learn from the film morally, but there is a clear message that the writers were trying to send to us when they made this film. The horror genre has turned into this torture porn of sorts, each gruesome movie trying to outdo the next. Don't get me wrong, splatter film has been around for ages, but the modern versions just seem sicker than ever. It seemed to start with the Saw series, then Hostel, then The Human Centipede, and A Serbian Film. While there are certainly images that are considered horrific, simply displaying these things cannot make a horror film. Whedon and Goddard seem to agree with this, but also explore why filmmakers are resorting to this avenue with great symbolism. The kids in the cabin are us, the viewers. We don't get to make choices on what happens in the film. The people in control are the directors. They are the Whedons, the Goddards, the Roths, the Cravens, the Carpenters. For the most part, they make the decisions for us. Then there are the others. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say "the others" and if you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. Those "others" are the audience again. Then there are the "other others." Seriously trying not to ruin anything now. But yes, there is even another step above (or should I say below) that control level which are the filmmakers again. It's this vicious circle of control. People want to see the most destructive deaths on screen, and the directors feel pressured to deliver on this in their own way, which we then absorb when we see the film whether it's creative or not. That's why horror movies are getting sicker. That's why we have dumb characters doing stupid things like dropping a knife and turning their back to a killer right when they're about to be in the same room. If we treat these directors and movies poorly, we're just going to be punished for it. We're better than this. We're smarter. Just because someone is young and less experienced doesn't mean they deserve to die in a movie. I really do believe you can research this movie and write a thorough a thought-provoking essay on the evolution of the horror genre.

I didn't understand why Thor didn't just use his hammer Mjolnir to defeat the bad guys.

THE BAD: Special effects. The only bad thing I can really say about The Cabin in the Woods were some of the special effects. Most of the third act stuff is actually pretty good and since things get so chaotic anyway, you really don't have time to notice bad CGI. It's the little stuff within the first two acts that looked bad to me. Like when the kids first drive to the cabin and they go through the tunnel. That looked super bad. Or the dirt bike jump. I'm pretty sure the effects of that equaled what you see in Hot Rod. Still, you can look past a lot of this because of the $12 million and the fact that it was made three years ago. (The film's release was put on hold due to MGM filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.)


THE END: It's clear that I loved this movie. I actually want to see it again to pay more attention to the technical aspects I might have missed. Mostly the music, sound, editing, and cinematography. I was focused way too much on the mystery and the story. If you've seen the trailer or commercials, you know there's a lot more going on in this movie than it might seem. It will still not prepare you for the ride this movie takes you on. I think this movie can be most enjoyed in a crowded theatre or large group. It's not strictly a movie you go to see, but a movie that you experience. Just like Disneyland, you will have a much better time with others. Check this one out soon.


DISCUSS: What did you think of The Cabin in the Woods? Was it scary? What did you expect at the end? What did you think of the cameo? Would you recommend this to others? What movies would you compare this to?

Don't worry kids. That's just strawberry jam on her noggin. And she's just reaching for that knife she dropped to continue making her PB&J.