Review: ‘The Cabin in the Woods’

The following review originally ran on Starpulse.com in 2012.

Based on its title, The Cabin in the Woods sounds like it could be a shoddy remake of Sam Raimi’s cult classic Evil Dead. And while you can tell that Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s movie draws inspiration from the horror staple, it also borrows elements from genre giants like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Night of the Living Dead. These guys aren’t mere copycats though.  Homage is only part of their endgame.

Goddard and Whedon’s film aspires to a much loftier goal: to spin the genre on its head. This ambition is revealed by the movie’s whip smart tagline: You think you know the story [but you really don’t].

The Cabin in the Woods follows five college friends who travel to a remote cabin in the woods for a relaxing weekend getaway. As with most victims in horror movies, these kids are blissfully unaware of the terrors that await them there. After arriving, they venture into the cabin’s basement, where they unwittingly unleash the forces of evil upon themselves. Still sounds like Evil Dead right? That’s what Goddard and Whedon want you to think, right before the story takes an amusing left turn.

To divulge more of the plot would spoil the thrill of seeing The Cabin in the Woods, for the first time without any expectations. If you decide to see it (and you really should), just keep in mind that it’s not really important what is tormenting the friends, but rather why they’re being attacked. The revelation of these details is just as humorous as it is horrifying.

In his directorial debut, Goddard and his co-writer Whedon craft a brilliant horror film which parodies established clichés just as skillfully as it honors them. It’s fair to say that you will probably laugh your ass off throughout the whole movie thanks to the hilarious dialogue and actor Fran Kranz who plays the stoner Marty. While Marty might on dope, he’s certainly no dummy. He can see right through the haze, using sarcasm and delightfully offbeat sentiments to warn his friends of impending danger.

Even with all the self-aware jokes and nods to the genre, The Cabin in the Woods still maintains a fascinating air of seriousness. Because the picture features a healthy amount of gore, you can’t quite call it a horror/comedy. Attempting to fully classify the film without spoilers is a useless endeavor, so just get out there and see it for yourself! After watching it once and taking in its mysteries, you’ll enjoy it even more on the second viewing, where you can catch all of its more subtle humor and references. If you’re a true horror junkie who likes to laugh, The Cabin in the Woods will easily be your favorite flick of 2012.

✭✭✭✭ ½