So “the secret” has been out for a few weeks now, but I still can’t bring myself to write publicly about the ending of Liongate’s The Cabin in the Woods for fear of ruining some lagger’s future enjoyment. Despite the rave reviews, I know a bunch of people will wait to see this movie on DVD. Fools!
“The secret” is not that there is a high-tech control room beneath the Cabin wherein a shadowy organization is controlling the supernatural happenings above. Anyone who saw the TV commercials already knows that. “The secret” is why this is happening and who this organization works for. But those of us who HAVE actually watched the film know that the story itself is just as good as the reveal, with amazing visuals and a literal army of otherworldly beings.
I’ve already seen Cabin twice and still don’t feel like I’ve absorbed every aspect. The film is chock-full of interesting characters, allusions to other horror films, and truly original situations. Well, now I can take my time exploring the cabin at my leisure with The Cabin in the Woods: The Official Visual Companion recent released by Titan Books.
Read more about the Visual Companion after the jump…
The Official Visual Companion features: “An in-depth interview with Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard about the making of the film; the full, uncut screenplay; interviews with the cast; behind the scenes secrets; stunning production art; [and] hundreds of eye-popping photos!”
The photo of the “Lottery” board on page 91 is almost worth the price of the book on its own. In the film, we’re only given a fleeting glimpse of the potential horrors that might have been released upon the stereotypical group of 20-somethings in the cabin. It’s fun to imagine what might have been, and to match up the beasties listed with those we actually do see when the facility runs amuck. “Angry Molesting Tree”? And what about the terrors known only as “The Bride” and “Kevin”? Funny how no one bet on the “Sugarplum Fairy”!
The fact that so much of Cabin’s visuals are practical (i.e. real as opposed to CGI) makes it a perfect film for such a visual companion. It’s amazing to see how some of the monsters evolved from sketches into the final product.
The screenplay is interesting, but becomes compelling when it includes cast interviews, character studies, and great pictures. The book flushes out subtle details like the painting in Holden’s room, the control room, and even a floor plan of the cabin itself. There are so many objects in the basement that it’s great to have time to study the pictures (including the film that Marty looks at). As the main baddies, the Buckner Family gets plenty of attention, and the photos of the clan leader show just how amazing the makeup and practical effects are. And who wouldn’t enjoy gazing endlessly at the ballerina with rings of razor teeth instead of a face!
The single best picture is the two-page spread of “The White Set” on pages 140-141. Definitely not for the weak-of-stomach!
Titan has also released a novelization of The Cabin in the Woods which I plan to tackle eventually. Both books can be ordered at www.titanbooks.com and would make great gifts for the Cabin fans in your life. A great tome that truly compliments the film it represents, The Official Visual Companion is a book I will enjoy again and again.
Saucy Josh writes a blog for intelligent Horror Movie aficionados called Blood and Guts for Grown Ups: https://bloodandgutsforgrownups.wordpress.com/