4 gibbles out of 5

Director: Drew Goddard

Where to begin.

The trailers and whatever you’ve read have probably given you a gist: that there’s a Cabin in the Woods, to which our 5 stereotypical horror teenagers go, and while all the regular horror things happen at said Cabin in Woods, there’s something else going on – namely two scientists who seem to be controlling elements that are put in play around the Cabin.

This hinges on something.  The lack of information provided about the film sets it up to be a twist movie.  If you view it as such, it’s probably disappointing, because the “twist,” in terms of on-screen antics, is what’s explained above, and that’s apparent from about the first five minutes of the movie.  The lack of information about “Cabin” is more that there’s simply not much to explain.  Sure, you could go deeper into the What Happens of the final act, but while that is the payoff of the film, it’s hardly a twist.

So what are you left with?  Is the film enjoyable?  For Whedonites, interestingly, beyond his stable of actors, I don’t quite think this falls into the regular Whedonverse, meaning this wouldn’t be automatically identifiable as having the touch of Joss.  If anything, it’s more in line with his Aliens script – taking a series that he loves and trying to revitalize it while at the same time respect what’s come before.  This time the series is a genre – horror – and what’s come before is every horror trope imaginable.

While we are dredged through these tropes, things are slow.  You know what Whedon and Goddard are doing, and you know (or at least hope) that it’s going somewhere, but while our puppeteers are pulling the strings it’s played out almost to the breaking point of boredom.  By film’s end going back over these events makes them more layered – beyond the satire – and rich in reference, suggesting that repeated views will be worthwhile, but if you’re going into the film without love-it or hate-it bias, that first hour is a tough sell.  I was preparing myself to be disappointed.

Ah, until the red phone rings.  The film decides it’s made its point and is now ready to tear things down for the new regime.  This provides for an infinitely awesome and hilarious HOLY FUCK moment that blankets some clumsiness moments before the end and makes all that came before totally worth every moment.

The fact that it’s not a twist is what makes it work.  Nothing is really unexpected once the initial premise is explained, but the dedication to do it and do it right – that first hour becomes a necessity – makes it wickedly admirable.  I loved Cabin in the Woods.  I’ll be honest and say that it’s not something I’d want to go to a theater for again, but it’s a better feeling – I can’t wait to watch it and re-watch it at home, musing over the possible intentions of various moments and then pausing frame by frame for nerdboy analyzation.

Cabin in the woods in the movie Cabin in the Woods

buy this for now