Review of The Cabin in the Woods (2012) by Arnaldo M — 25 Aug 2014

'Cabin in the Woods' is a very very different film than I was expecting. Based on Joss Whedons previous forays into horror, I wasn't hopeful. From his terrible creation 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' to his near ruination of a cornerstone franchise in 'Alien: Resurrection', Whedon has proven that his style of doing things just doesn't translate to horror. While 'CitW' isn't perfect, it is a huge step in the right direction.

More than a stand alone feature, this film is really a love letter to the genre. While you don't have to be a horror buff to enjoy it, it will shine alot brighter. It is really unique in how original it is while simultaneously referencing, playing on and incorporating hundreds of horror tropes. The at first generic title itself is an homage to the genre, as is the cast of characters that incorporates all the horror film stereotypes (and a great cameo by Sigorney Weaver). All the classic plot points are present and accounted for. Different scenes are based on specific classic horror films such as 'The Evil Dead', 'Hellraiser', 'Night of the Living Dead', and countless others. Film isn't the only medium it references. Bones are thrown to classic horror authors like H.P Lovecraft, Mary Shelly, Bram Stoker and Poe as well as contemporaries like Stephen King and Clive Barker. The knowledge of the genre and its history is woven together to make a truly unique and self aware film that is nothing if not a tribute.

As much as I personally enjoyed this film for its incredible scope of my favorite genre, it isn't a great film on its own. Some subpar acting, issues with pacing and a few plot holes hold it back from 'excellent' status. Of course, one could argue that these problems were intentional references to the problems of many horror films, so its hard to know for sure if they are actual or intentional weaknesses. It relies a fair amount on its humor as it is with any Whedon vehicle, and it definitely has some pretty funny moments. Mixing humor and horror is really hard to do effectively, but this one strikes a great balance.

Overall, this is a really interesting film overflowing with knowledge of its history. I've never seen a movie like it, and it knows exactly what it is doing. While it isn't a masterpiece, it is a really clever and well done genre bender. As I said earlier, you don't have to be a horror fan to enjoy it, but it will enhance your enjoyment 100x.