Review of The Cabin in the Woods (2012) by Luke K — 03 Nov 2015

The Cabin in the Woods is an ultra-meta, thrilling and hilarious masterpiece. Whilst some may argue this film is more of a comedy, I believe it blends its comedic moments with its horror elements in a way that perfectly captures that fun spirit that has always been inherent to the horror genre. This film is incredible. Beginning as a generic horror film with five teenagers heading to a cabin in the woods, the film (co-written by pop culture master Joss Whedon) proceeds to turn this premise (and the horror genre) on its head by acknowledging and subverting every single horror cliche and trope in the book. It is an intelligent, confident, and incredibly ambitious horror film that is completely unique. With an extravagant final act that defies all expectation and elevates the film to another level, experiencing The Cabin in the Woods in cinemas was the most fun I have ever had watching a horror film. Well acted, written, directed and paced, this film is more than just a horror parody, as it really is a genuinely exciting horror film in its own right, with frightening imagery and sequences involving characters that we genuinely care about (which is a testament to how well-crafted this film is, considering it could have easily been nothing but a gimmicky comedy).

Fun, scary, hilarious, and boasting a truly original, iconic and transgressive premise that was perfectly executed, The Cabin in the Woods is the ultimate love letter to horror, and is my choice for the best modern horror film.