Film Sponge

After weeks of relentless promotion, the Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard scribed horror film The Cabin in the Woods finally hit theaters nationwide today.  I have no doubt that the majority who see the film this weekend will agree: It’s been a long time since a mainstream Hollywood studio produced such an awesome piece of work!

For the past couple years, I’ve relied on Indie and foreign films for a truly satisfying horror viewing experience.  Hollywood offerings of late have drifted away from great storytelling in favor of elaborate CGI and 3D effects.  Recent remakes of Fright Night and The Thing offended longtime genre lovers (like Yours Truly).  2012 has gotten off to a rocky start as far as horror is concerned; audiences were mostly underwhelmed by heavily promoted films like The Devil Inside, The Lady in Black, and The Silent House.

Well thank the Gods for The Cabin in the Woods.  Read my review after the jump…

A group of friends at a cabin retreat scratch the surface of something so massive and horrific that they can only begin to fathom it as time quickly runs out. If you think you know this story, think again. The Cabin in the Woods is a mind-blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.

Finally, a film that actually lives up to its own hype!  The Cabin in the Woods somehow pleases mainstream cinematic thrill-seekers and hardcore gore hounds alike.  Even if horror films aren’t your thing in general, you’re still bound to give this one a “Thumbs up”.  This feat is achieved without alienating horror fans (who are notoriously hard to please).

Horror tourists will appreciate the humor, the intelligence, the witty script, and the incredible special effects that impress without overwhelming the senses.  The characters on both sides of the equation are likeable and, by the film’s conclusion, it’s hard to say who the bad guys really are. Fran Kranz is comic gold as the typical stoner-dude who completely steals the show.  In a Shakespearean twist, this “Fool” turns out to be the wisest member of the group.  (Props to Whedon/Goddard, by the way, for making such a marijuana-positive movie.  Where can I get one of those retractable coffee-mug/bongs?)  Kristen Connolly is easy on the eyes and believable without being pitiable as the film’s “final” sacrifice.  And everyone will love the cameo by a certain film actress, beloved in horror circles and beyond.  Listen carefully because you’ll hear her before you see her.

Gore hounds will appreciate all of the clever horror allusions that abound in Cabin.  As I watched the film, I was like, “Hey, that’s a shout-out to Hellraiser!  There’s one for The Strangers!  And another for Evil Dead!”  In addition to the homage paid to past greats, Cabin pays tribute to just about every horror genre and sub genre including aliens, ghosts, and monsters.  And, of course, there is no shortage of zombies!  Director Goddard used all of the freedom the film’s R gave him by utilizing nudity, pervasive drug use, and thousands of buckets of blood!

Months back, Upcoming Horror Movies reported that The Cabin in the Woods had initially been slated for release in 2010 saying the delay was “in order to convert the film into 3D”.  I am relieved and ecstatic to report that this is not the case—proof that filmmakers need not rely on trendy technology as a gimmick to sell movie tickets.  Get back to great storytelling geniuses!  The Cabin in the Woods really does remind us why we love horror films in the first place and I hope it will inspire future writers and directors to dig deep for fresh and creative innovations.  While Indie filmmakers won’t be able to match this movie’s scope, it’s the script that makes Cabin a winner—and Hollywood doesn’t have a monopoly on great ideas.

Cabin isn’t flawless.  The sheer magnitude of the film’s “secret” requires tremendous suspension of disbelief.  But we forgive its plot-holes because the overall experience is so damn entertaining!  Like other films that end on a big reveal (like The Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects) Cabin urges a second viewing, where one can almost certainly expect to absorb aspects missed in the initial viewing.  And while it might not be a horror movie game-changer like Scream or The Blair Witch Project, this film is a breath of fresh air in a stagnant, zombie-infested genre.

More films like The Cabin in the Woods please!

4 out of 5 Skulls!

Saucy Josh writes a blog for intelligent Horror Movie aficionados called Blood and Guts for Grown Ups: https://bloodandgutsforgrownups.wordpress.com/

About the above Mondo poster, Bloody Disgusting quotes Goddard as saying: “All I’ve ever wanted in life was to make a movie that had its own Mondo poster,” director Drew Goddard said in a statement.  “I can now exit this mortal coil a happy man.”