The Cabin In The Woods

Gamechanger? I dunno, I think that Wes Craven/Kevin Williamson's Scream (and New Nightmare) might have something to say about that. Massively entertaining thrill ride? Absolutely.

Referencing an encyclopedia of horror tropes and iconography isn't a new thing, but not since Scream and, to a lesser extent, The Faculty have I enjoyed a meta-horror to the point where I wanted to immediately see it again. I mean, how many films can you guys name where at end the heroes would rather the world end than sacrifice themselves to save it?

The rather crucial theme of the voyeur's lust for violence and sex is also nothing new, but Whedon and Goddard's knife sharp wit gives theses scenes a freshness that has been lacking in a lot of similarly themed films for quite some time. I doubt this Hunger Games franchise will have a sequence in which a live sex scene is juxtaposed with spectators anxiously awaiting the arrival of the vintage 'titty shot'.

As expected from a Whedon production, I found the characters to be quite likeable and funny. Everyone seems to get their chance to shine, even the stoner guy who has some of the best one liners I have heard in a long time. The 'husband's bulge' will become a popular phrase because of this film the way in which MILF became with American Pie. Also loved his reactions during the scene where they unknowingly choose their fate. "I'm drawing a line in the ****ing sand here".

The only thing that sort of hinders this film from being scarier than it is is it is a bit too knowing, too smart for it's own good. The abrupt in-jokes and genre subversions do sometimes spoil the sense of dread, but when the film wants to be in scare mode, it's sometimes effortless. One particularly creepy moment is Jules' seduction of a seemingly dead wolf's head. I know nothing actually happened, but by that point in the film, you get the idea that the wolf coming alive could be possible, so I was watching through my fingers the whole time, hoping it wouldn't!

Anyways, no point saying more, except that I loved the references to, well, everything. Particularly loved how all hell broke loose in the final scenes. It's a terrific payoff even if the CGI is dodgy. ls it just me or does the Buffy actually like having rubbish looking CGI giant snakes??? I'm not sure if Whedon and Goddard were referencing the Mayor's transformation at the end of Graduation Day part 2, but I immediately thought of that when I saw it. Specially seeing as how it killed off an Angel cast member.



[/i]

Gamechanger? I dunno, I think that Wes Craven/Kevin Williamson's Scream (and New Nightmare) might have something to say about that. Massively entertaining thrill ride? Absolutely.

Referencing an encyclopedia of horror tropes and iconography isn't a new thing, but not since Scream and, to a lesser extent, The Faculty have I enjoyed a meta-horror to the point where I wanted to immediately see it again. I mean, how many films can you guys name where at end the heroes would rather the world end than sacrifice themselves to save it?

The rather crucial theme of the voyeur's lust for violence and sex is also nothing new, but Whedon and Goddard's knife sharp wit gives theses scenes a freshness that has been lacking in a lot of similarly themed films for quite some time. I doubt this Hunger Games franchise will have a sequence in which a live sex scene is juxtaposed with spectators anxiously awaiting the arrival of the vintage 'titty shot'.

As expected from a Whedon production, I found the characters to be quite likeable and funny. Everyone seems to get their chance to shine, even the stoner guy who has some of the best one liners I have heard in a long time. The 'husband's bulge' will become a popular phrase because of this film the way in which MILF became with American Pie. Also loved his reactions during the scene where they unknowingly choose their fate. "I'm drawing a line in the ****ing sand here".

The only thing that sort of hinders this film from being scarier than it is is it is a bit too knowing, too smart for it's own good. The abrupt in-jokes and genre subversions do sometimes spoil the sense of dread, but when the film wants to be in scare mode, it's sometimes effortless. One particularly creepy moment is Jules' seduction of a seemingly dead wolf's head. I know nothing actually happened, but by that point in the film, you get the idea that the wolf coming alive could be possible, so I was watching through my fingers the whole time, hoping it wouldn't!

Anyways, no point saying more, except that I loved the references to, well, everything. Particularly loved how all hell broke loose in the final scenes. It's a terrific payoff even if the CGI is dodgy. ls it just me or does the Buffy actually like having rubbish looking CGI giant snakes??? I'm not sure if Whedon and Goddard were referencing the Mayor's transformation at the end of Graduation Day part 2, but I immediately thought of that when I saw it. Specially seeing as how it killed off an Angel cast member.



[/i]