The Cabin in the Woods - A Movie Review

I was not expecting to get chased by zombies when you invited me to your cabin.

The Cabin in the Woods was released into theaters in 2011. A group of friends goes away for the weekend to a remote cabin. Hoping to have a relaxing time, the dark secrets of the cabin unleash a band of zombies, werewolves, and other terrifying monsters.

The first time I watched The Cabin in the Woods I was not fond of it. I am so happy that I gave this film a second chance. I was surprised by how much I forgot about certain signature scenes, especially the ending. The Cabin in the Woods is an experiment for audiences about the impacts of horror films.

Kristen Connelly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams were terrific as the group of friends. Of course, they are the usual stereotypes, doing the usual teen things like in every horror flick. Their behavior gets annoying at times. But in this film, it’s different. The cast worked well together in their interactions.

Fran Kranz deserves an honorary mention for his performance as the stoner, Marty. Judging people before you get to know them is never the answer. We all have layers. Although The Cabin in the Woods works on the usual stereotypes, it is a test for audiences. Little do they know how their roles play into effect.

When the movie first hit theaters, moviegoers actually thought that they were in the wrong theater. The subplot about a secret government facility orchestrating the horrific events was kept hidden so well. It’s a cool aspect that adds a different layer to the film. The scientists can do things like change someone’s behavior, release a monster from their stock loads of cages and create a computer-generated fake scenery.

Other credits to include are Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Brian White, Amy Acker, and many more. Be on the lookout for a surprise appearance by a well-known actress.

Over 60 types of monsters were created just for this film. Many individuals performed as frightening monsters. The make-up artists did an extremely amazing job on zombies, people with mashed faces, and tons of other horrifying creatures. For some, it took at least 4-6 hours to apply the makeup effects.

In one of the best screenshots of the entire film, the camera pulls away to reveal hundreds, even thousands of ghosts, witches, ghouls, and monsters! Keep your eyes open because there are some recognizable monsters from other horror media.

The ending to The Cabin in the Woods is one of the most gruesome, bloodiest, and horror-inducing epic monster climax that you will ever see. I wonder what it would have been like to sit in a movie theater and experience this ending.

Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s direction broke through the walls of horror to deliver a film that exceeds audience expectations. They wrote the script in three days. For Goddard’s directorial debut he overcame challenges making him a more comfortable director. They actually believed that their film would not be picked up by studios because of the content of the film.

I have to admit that the ending was far-fetched. I think they could have thought up a better ending as it made the film feel out of place.

The Cabin in the Woods is an entertaining horror film. It’s a horror film that makes fun of its own genre. Again, I am glad that I watched it a second time because I had more fun. It is not for all viewers, I’ll say that. Be aware that the climax is VERY gory.