Review of The Cabin in the Woods (2012) by Noah N — 04 Nov 2014

'Cabin in the Woods' (2012) is Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's metaphorical yet satirical answer to the horror film genre. Forget 'Alien: Resurrection' (1997)! Whedon knows how to write good horror.

It starts out like the typical 'Evil Dead' (1981) set-up: a gang of college kids vacate to a quiet and isolated cabin in the woods. As soon as spooky things begin to happen, we soon discover they are actually being watched in their own personal horror movie controlled by a corrupt organization playing their own special rituals.

Thought it's not one to overthink, 'Cabin in the Woods' (2012) has its own twists and turns which both parodies and homages 'Alien' (1979), 'American Psycho' (2000), 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' (1985), 'Blade II' (2002), 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' (1954), 'Dark Night of the Scarecrow' (1981), 'Eight Legged Freaks' (2002), 'Friday the 13th' (1980), 'Funny Games' (1997), 'Halloween' (1978), 'Hellraiser' (1987), 'Hobgoblins' (1988), 'House on Haunted Hill' (1999), 'Jack Frost' (1996), 'Jurassic Park' (1993), 'King Kong' (1933), 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986), 'Night of the Demons' (1988), 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968), 'Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror' (1922), 'Re-Animator' (1986), 'Reptilicus' (1961), 'Ringu' (1998), 'Saw' (2004), 'Silent Hill' (2006), 'Steven King's It' (1990), '13 Ghosts' (1960), 'Tentacles' (1977), 'The Amityville Horror' (1979), 'The Blob' (1958), 'The Blood Spattered Bride' (1972), 'The Craft' (1996), 'The Hills Have Eyes' (1977), 'The Shining' (1980), 'The Strangers' (2008), 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974), 'The Thing' (1982), 'Virus' (1999), and just possibly 'Sin City' (2005) because of Kevin! You can find out all these movie references the film's climax, were its goes 'Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed' (2004) on steroids! Forget Necronomicon! Here it's more like the NecroComic-Con! Whether you're a horror more buff or not, 'Cabin in the Woods' (2012) is a great choice for a Halloween movie, which will have you laughing at one moment or squirming at another.