#31 - The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
(dir. Drew Goddard)
Five college students head into the woods to spend a weekend at a secluded cabin. This setup is the same as dozens of horror movies, and that's exactly the point - maybe there is a reason so many films follow the same basic formula? The harbinger, the archetypes, the irrational behavior of the characters ("We should split up"), etc. are all part of an elaborate sacrifice ritual needed to appease the old gods. This film deconstructs and pokes fun at horror movie tropes while also telling a wholly original story.
I love this movie. It's funny, clever, and sometimes pretty bloody (okay, VERY bloody in a couple scenes). It seems tailor-made for horror fans, but I think most audiences can appreciate the humor here. There are tons of fun references to classic horror films and monsters, especially when everything goes totally nuts towards the end. I really like Fran Kranz (Dollhouse) as the stoner/"Fool" character - he needs to be in more movies. Two other Whedon TV alums, Amy Acker (Angel/Dollhouse) and Tom Lenk (Buffy), have good roles here too.
So if you like horror movies and haven't seen this, get on it ASAP. One of my favorites from the past 10 years.
Comments
Post a Comment