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How entertaining? ★★★★★
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 9 April 2012
This a movie review of THE CABIN IN THE WOODS. |
“The lambs have passed through the gate, they are come to the killing floor,” Mordecai
“Got to keep the customers satisfied… You understand what’s at stake here?” Sitterson
Wow. And wow. How good is this?! THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is finally getting released. And like last year’s MARGARET, has totally been worth the wait. At first glance we are in tired horror territory. Stay with it, and you will be rewarded. CABIN sends-up, explains, and breaths new life into the haunted house subgenre. That’s right, explains. You’ll see.
“Got to keep the customers satisfied… You understand what’s at stake here?” Sitterson
Wow. And wow. How good is this?! THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is finally getting released. And like last year’s MARGARET, has totally been worth the wait. At first glance we are in tired horror territory. Stay with it, and you will be rewarded. CABIN sends-up, explains, and breaths new life into the haunted house subgenre. That’s right, explains. You’ll see.
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Five stock character stereotypes (including a pre-THOR Chris Hemsworth) take time off from college to go on vacation to the titular location. Coupled with our following their trip, so far so generic, is another strand – we get a peek into the world of some apparent corporate/government stooges (played by Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Brian White and Amy Acker) at what looks like a research facility. They are in fact observing the five uni students. This is what will arguably keep you the most engaged in the first half of proceedings. The office satire sets up an intriguing relationship between the hi-tech and the supernatural, between “adult” life and post-adolescence. Oh yeah, and the audience witnesses an eagle fly into a massive invisible force shield vaporising it. That’s all I’m going to reveal on the plot. One of the big pleasures of the movie is the surprises. Avoid spoilers if you value divertissements.
CABIN is a stunning genre-bending, even genre-defining, horror film. It is a pastiche, up there with SCREAM and TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL. Don’t get it into your head though that this a comedy. Everything is played straight, with a darkly humorous seam cutting through. Fan-boy demi-deity Joss Whedon (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, SERENITY, TOY STORY) produces, and co-writes, while Drew Goddard (CLOVERFIELD) directs and co-writes. They make a formidable team. For Whedon acolytes, themes in his work continue in CABIN, such as epic malevolence, potential global implications, something far larger than us, and individuals banding together to stem the tide. The last 30 minutes is something to behold, the word extraordinary just about does the denouement justice.
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