THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

The Cabin In The Woods

Directed by Drew Goddard

Written by Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon

            The horror genre of filmmaking is filled with so many clichés that anybody who has seen a horror film from the dawn of cinema F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu and the original monster films of the 1930s, to the current obsession with gory, blood-soaked cinema, the Saw franchise, can pick them apart. Add to the fact that many of these films have been told, retold and retold again without suggesting any chance or attempt at reinventing the genre and taking this fun, mindless, eyeball orgasm enjoyment of cinema in a new direction. We might have found, at least with this raucous ride, a film that plays on all clichés and characteristics and puts a little spin on it that rehabilitates the horror genre and if not completely a “game-changer,” (the internet buzz was ecstatic and oozing with fanboy excitement when this film premiered at the 2012 South by Southwest Media Festival in Austin) gives hope that there are directors and writers that or trying to think out of the box. Well, thought out of the box a little bit with The Cabin in the Woods.

            The story revolves around five college students that go away for a weekend to woods, where, yes, guess what, there is a cabin in pretty much the middle of nowhere. Things go awry and one-by-one we see the demise of these young individuals. Now, I know that doesn’t sound to different than any other amalgamation of horror films from the isolated cabin in Sam Raimi’s mind-exploding, all-time favorite of mine The Evil Dead series, and the young kids, some full of innocence and some full of arrogance and sexual temptation, going to camp or summer vacation similar to Friday the 13^th films. Remember, bad monsters do not like pretty woman, cocky guys, intelligence and most of all, SEX. They have some kind of deformity that causes a jealous outrage and they want to purify these sexually induced teens and college kids of their carnal desires. But, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s film plays on all these genre-laden clichés and stereotypes, and supplants a comical twist on a game of supposed free will and straight up fun filmmaking.

            The Cabin in the Woods is best seen, like most horror or thriller movies, well any film for that matter, going in with as little information at all. I really hate it when you talk to people that have seen a movie before you have and they give away plot details and scenes. Let me see the movie first and just tell me your opinion about it without giving too much away, thanks. The unknown of what the hell is going on and the comedy fuels the film. Yes, the comedy is really good. It contains an orgy of great references and a true appreciation of the horror genre. The movie is a great break from the formulaic splatter, torture porn cinema that has been over done to death, not to say it doesn’t contain its moments of gore, but in the end the things that make the film stick out also cause it to be somewhat disappointing and a little drawn out in the end. But, check it out. It’s a horror film and they usually are the best escapist cinema and loads of fun.