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The Kidd Vs. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
Even after sitting on my thoughts and notes for THE CABIN IN THE WOODS for a few weeks now, it doesn’t make writing a review of the film any easier. In fact, CABIN may be the most difficult film I’ve ever come to review, because telling you more than it’s about a group of five college kids who venture out to a cabin isolated in the middle of the woods where bad shit is about to go down is far too much. However, I’ve come to see the film twice already, and what SCREAM did for changing how the film industry did horror 16 years ago, I imagine THE CABIN IN THE WOODS will do something similar to the genre today. This is a film that abides by the conventions while keeping them fresh and interesting, but, more importantly, it takes the formulas we’ve come to expect from horror films, mocks them openly to their faces and then goes about doing something completely original that’ll keep you on your toes. By being innovative, CABIN avoids the boredom too many horror films become trapped in by doing the same old thing over and over and over again.
Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Jesse Williams and Fran Kranz fill the five usual archetypes of a horror movie like this – Dana the virgin, Curt the jock, Jules the slut, Holden the brains and Marty the stoner… only those roles aren’t exactly as we’ve always come to know them. There’s quite a few extra layers to each than your basic stereotypes, and some of the fun of THE CABIN IN THE WOODS comes from the deconstruction of these elements you’d expect – splitting up to see what the problem is, the gratuitous sex, the questionable decision making. Previously, they had all becomes staples of a formula, but CABIN offers up answers that make sense and that establish an intelligence beneath everything happening rather than just expecting you to buy into something because it’s always been so.
Joss Whedon’s crisp script creates more of a comedy with horror elements than a straight horror flick, which works in CABIN’s favor. The dialogue is quick and snappy, one of Whedon’s strengths, and it makes for quite a few laugh out loud moments between the characters’ collective wit and their equally clever actions. Director/co-writer Drew Goddard is able to give you the feel of a horror movie, particularly the creepiness of being out in the middle of nowhere, passing by rundown gas stations and being miles away from any sort of civilization, but, when it comes time to abandon those set-ups, Goddard is up for the task of kicking the movie into another gear when caution needs to be thrown to the wind for some ridiculously out of control fun.
Each of the group of five nails their parts perfectly well, with Kranz’s burnt out slacker being the best of the bunch. His character is given a lot more leeway being the smart-ass of the group, and, as a result, when you’re looking for the most memorable of them, the honor falls to him. There doesn’t seem to be enough for Jesse Williams to do here, leaving him with the shine of being an eventual victim for large parts of the film. He seems to be the only character not filled out with as much depth as the others, serving more as a placeholder than an integral member of the crew. Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins though absolutely steal the movie as a duo that may hold the answers to a lot of the cabin’s secrets. While CABIN is full of life from beginning to end, you can’t help but feel your excitement being taken up a notch whenever it’s time for them to make another revealing appearance.
The less you know about THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, the better, and, if you’ve made it this far in the review, I’m proud to be able to say I feel as if I’ve kept just about the entire movie intact for you. This is a movie that you shouldn’t be told about, and, if someone goes out of the way to spoil it for you, a nice swift kick to the testes would be a sufficient payment for that sort of kindness. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is a movie that should be experienced, hopefully with other people who not only love movies, but love horror. That’s the crowd that will embrace this movie. That’s the crowd that will appreciate with THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is aiming to do. That’s the crowd that will “get it.” If you fall into that description, then I believe you’re going to love THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, much like I do.
-Billy Donnelly
"The Infamous Billy The Kidd"
Follow me on Twitter.
Readers Talkback
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I believe the script is by both Whedon and Goddard, not Whedon alone. Still, you're right: excellent film!
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Or if the person is yourself, actively seeking spoilers? That angle is too awkward, I just kind of graze them and then fall sideways.
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April 13, 2012, 3:32 p.m. CST
I would never be able to convince my wife to go to this
by Pete Michaelson
unless it was at the Drafthouse where she could get a margarita. That being said, I think this is ultimately going to be a downloa....er, rental for me.
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Yes, the trailer tells you that the kids are being set-up but the reasons behind it are the big reveal. The scene with the adolescent, Japanese girls being terrorized then...was my fave. Go see this now. Don't read anymore reviews because eventually someone will tell you the ending and you'll hate yourself.
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Loved this movie. Very R-rated for gore, violence, and f-word. If (if!) it's not a comedy, it still has enough big laughs to qualify as one of the funniest movies of the year. MUCH better than Cloverfield. Enjoyed especially the Fran Kranz and Bradley Whitford characters. Oh, and Mordecai the fuel-pump Harbinger. Both girls in the cabin are stunning and strip down to swimwear to frolic with Thor.
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And some rapid channel changing, occasionally I had to just close my eyes and hum a little song, but I went into this movie having only seen 2 or 3 stills, no commercials and having read no spoiler reviews. It was all worth it to be able to go in as a complete virgin. Don't read about it, just go see it....
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You're only depriving yourself by watching this one at home. This is better experienced with a good live crowd.
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April 13, 2012, 3:57 p.m. CST
My damn curiosity, has ruined it for me! Don't make my mistake!!
by Wcwlkr
I found the damn script and ruined the ending for myself. Heed my warning don't spoil it! It's well worth it! LOL
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April 13, 2012, 3:57 p.m. CST
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant movie. Absolute perfection.
by Dharma4
Cannot wait to see it again. -Namaste-
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April 13, 2012, 4 p.m. CST
Going to see this back to back with The Raid (fuck calling it Redemption)
by Tikidonkeypunch
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The Kidd loses his girlfriend, wife, mistress, job, and house because all he did this week was watch movies 24/7, haha!
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Every lame horror movie makes a ton of money at the box office while most every sci-fi movie bombs (which is why they don't make many). Horror movies appeal to the retard masses with the sub-100 IQs. Cabin in the Woods looks entertaining but if so, it will be an exception in the horror genre.
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.... WHAT A SHOCKER (FOR REAL THIS TIME).
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...it doesn't really work as a whole anywhere near as well as people are saying. It's very artfully put together, well performed, nicely paced etc etc, but it just pushes things too far in the final act. Also, it isn't scary. And that's a big problem for a horror film.
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April 13, 2012, 4:44 p.m. CST
If the movie is good, why do they have to ruin it with horrid teenage rock MTV blaring music trailers? Oh, and SCREAM films are for girls.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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April 13, 2012, 4:44 p.m. CST
Don't market the film for kids if you want grown ups to come.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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Didn't even see a commercial for the movie till last night. Even then, I felt like I saw too much. I'm not a huge horror fan, but I'm a fan of the people this came from, so I can't wait to see it. Unfortunately, probably won't be able to see it with a crowd. Mid-week matinee for me. :(
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April 13, 2012, 4:45 p.m. CST
rupee88: MODERN so-called "horror" films ARE for dumb people but the classics weren't. Everything sucks today because the standard is so low.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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April 13, 2012, 4:49 p.m. CST
Have none of you ever read Shaun Hutson - Relics - Wheedon has.
by Marcus Batchelor
Have none of you ever read Shaun Hutson - Relics - Wheedon has. But i like the bit he tagged on the front of it.
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April 13, 2012, 4:49 p.m. CST
All these stories, and Nordling is nowhere to be seen. Happy Day!
by Cash907
Hope he's gone for good. Worst contributor this site has ever had.
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Stephen King lives near me and he was in the theater watching this movie. He seemed to enjoy the movie when I mentioned it was pretty cool. But in hindsight I agree with huskerdu2 that it wasn't that scary. It seemed more in the vein of Evil Dead. Oh yeah, Stephen cheered at the Expendables 2 trailer. :) Seems like a pretty average guy who enjoys movies.
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I would love to watch a horror film with the man himself. Unless your full of shit then fuck off. But if your telling the truth you should check that off of your bucket list.
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April 13, 2012, 4:56 p.m. CST
Story sounds interesting, execution (MTV music, tween looking cast) looks typical and pathetic.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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Yeah, I called my parents to tell them I saw it with Stephen King in front of me in the theater. I fvcked up though. I was too polite about asking him for an autograph and after our brief exchange walking out the theater I walked away and heard another guy say "Mr. King? Can I get your autograph?" and Stephen said "Sure!". I would never be a paparazzi. :) The guy is one of my favorite authors so this was a pretty surreal moment.
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That was almost word for word what I said. Nicely put.
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Yes, mentaldominance, you are.
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Best I've seen this year by far. But I'm a horror fan, and a Joss fan, and a big fan of creativity in genre work. Far too rare, which makes this film something of a miracle in a genre that can too easily be lazy like rom com. This film is not lazy. This film is a gem.
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The movie is a trip. Both unsettling and funny. As the stakes are raised it manages to get funnier. I don't think it can reinvent the genre as it is too unique and couldn't be done again without being a hack job. Too me it was like Evil Dead meets Drag me to Hell based on a Neil Gaiman short story.
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All the "don't do anything to spoil this for yourself" makes the let down all the greater. Lower your expectations. I saw "Nightmare on Elm Street" when it opened in 1984. That was a great movie to see with a crowd and I think it was the last time I really was impressed that the horror genre was tweaked a good bit. I was 17, but that's the last time I remember seeing an horror movie and thinking "I'm so glad I saw that in the theater with a bunch of people". I was disappointed in Cabin.
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April 13, 2012, 5:55 p.m. CST
Looks like I'm in the minority (possible SPOILER)
by I am not a number
This didn't do much for me. I didn't find it scary (the repeated cutaways from the cabin destroyed any chance at that) or particularly funny. I'd call it amusing, and would give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. Fun to spot the homages to other movies (Hellraiser, Ringu, etc), and I was surprised by the cameo at the end. I'll give them points for (1) trying to find a new spin on the typical horror-movie scenario (though it just didn't come together enough for me); (2) making the stoner the most interesting character instead of just the most annoying; and (3) Amy Acker!
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Best spin on the genre made in years. Makes SAW and SCREAM look like amateur hour.
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I am a horror junkie and loved it. Not much these days is even remotely original. This film was an excellent deconstruction and love letter to the genre at the same time. Even when you know where it's going it's a great ride!
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I think horror and comedy are the two genres whose pleasures are the most... personal? individualized? What makes you laugh and what makes you scared -- and why -- isn't easy to quantify. It does for you, or doesn't. So, in short, fair shakes.
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Yeah, I wish I enjoyed it as much as everyone else. Didn't hate it, but I can see why people liked it so much. Like you said, fair shakes.
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I agree with the comparisons to Scream in the sense that this movie is self-aware of horror to the point of being a game changer. However... One of the reasons why I loved the first Wrong Turn movie years ago is that it was the first post-Scream horror movie that did not wink at me. After years of post-modern self-aware horror movies that held the "This is only a horror movie and we're acting like people in a horror movie act." mantra, it was refreshing to see a horror movie that did not remind me at every turn that it was just a movie. Self-awareness in cinema can have its drawbacks. Also... If The Cabin in the Woods been made in the 1980s with old-school special effects, it would likely be remembered 30 years later as a horror classic. As is, however, the special effects made me think of a sub-par Buffy episode. An old-school Silver Bullet-type werewolf and a giant stop-motion Harryhausen-esque cobra would have worked wonders in a few pivotal scenes. The computer effects took my mind out of the story and into the awareness of the fake world. I think that The Cabin in the Woods was a solid flick, but I'd rather see a beautiful woman wink at me than see a horror movie wink at me.
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evil wins at the end because the chick didnt want to kill her boyfriend to save the world???? ROFL how original...
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April 13, 2012, 6:41 p.m. CST
And technically it is not even a twist as the plot is concerned.
by KilliK
The overhyped twist is about the expectations of the average moronic movie audience from this kind of horror movies.Nothing else. The marketing department of the movie did a great job and it will be a big BO hit.
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April 13, 2012, 6:47 p.m. CST
KEVIN FEIGE TALKS ABOUT LOKI'S STATUS IN THOR 2 - SPOILERS
by J-Dizzle
http://www.411mania.com/movies/news/233862 Late again AICN
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I see I'm not the only one. Not really funny, not really scary. Great third act though! Very cool. Overall, it was certainly an interesting take on horror films, but that made the first act up to the midpoint NOT interesting to watch because it was a bad horror movie, but the jokes about it being bad were not funny. However, I always root for horror to do well - and inventive horror - AND I like Goddard and Whedon is cool, so if it's a hit, then great for both of them and the genre!
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I love anything that brings something new and original to the genre... some of my favorites over the last few years have been foreign... Martyrs switched gears so hard in the middle that I totally respected that a film like that got made. REC was a decent film. I have been waiting to see Cabin for a while and I enjoyed it a lot. It was pure fun. A lot more humor than those, but again... it's hard to find anything original these days and I'm happy that Cabin brought something new to the party.
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April 13, 2012, 7:06 p.m. CST
All I've heard from people is that they like it because it has tons of fan boy candy/references to other mostly crap films.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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April 13, 2012, 7:07 p.m. CST
So you're supposed to feel "special" if you "get it" - Morons.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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Horror is NOT - Nightmare on Elm Street Series Friday the 13th Series SCREAM series Buffy the fucking Vampire Slayer Evil Dead Series ANYTHING that came out after the year 2000 Those are comedies rendered with a horror font. TRUE horror - Halloween The Fog Carpenter's The Thing Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING Prince of Darkness ALIEN 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers THESE ARE GOOD FILMS THE FORMER ARE JOKES All kids today try to compete with are the jokes.
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WE HAVE SUCH SIGHTS TO SHOW YOU.
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For true horror, the Val Lewton Horror Collection DVD box set is worth a grab. I bought it blind a few years back and was stunned at how awesome and effective those old-school flicks are. The Seventh Victim is just golden in every way. Your list is pretty ace, though. The Cabin in the Woods is a "reference list for horror fans", yes. I'll give it that. I think that Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's The Mist was a better "reference list for horror fans" that actually succeeded in being bleak and terrifying in its own right. The Mist threw a bone to all of us who grew up watching horror movies, but the references all advanced the primary objective of scaring and unsettling us. Great great movie.
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For once I couldn't predict what happened next. By the end I was just speechless by the amount of awesomness onscreen. I didn't find it scary one bit, but I can't remember the last movie I saw that actually scared me. At least this one kept me entertained.
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Best movie of the year so far. Completely awesome!
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One of the best and original horror/comedy style movie I've seen in a long time. Made me feel like a kid again.
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Holy shit this movie is so fucking bad ass! Go see it, cancel your plans stop reading this and go see it. Best movie I have seen this year hands down.
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please continue to regale us further!
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April 13, 2012, 9:50 p.m. CST
The mysterious 80 year old dude sitting next to me laughed his ass off.
by Baked
So, yeah, cross-generational appeal. This movie is tits.
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ROFL how foolish
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Just seems against character.
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April 13, 2012, 10:30 p.m. CST
Loved it . . . for some reason it reminded me of Saturday the 14th.
by Turingtestee
Didn't expect it to be so funny. Bradley Whitford's running gag payoff had me dying in the theater.
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i kinda expected something more handsome, but yea, it was funny
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All for the kitchen sink quality.
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The first 2/3 of the movie has its moments, but it's not at all scary and the whole thing is way too self aware. Honestly, it bored me for long stretches. This movie doesn't just wink at you, it holds up signs Wiley Coyote-style to outright label the action as it goes. That said, the 3rd act of the film, where the tables get turned, was a lot of fun. I'd give it about a 6/10. This is definitely NOT going to re-energize/re-invent/re-hash the genre the way Scream did, even though it's trying soooooooo hard to be that kind of movie. I'm puzzled by all the rave reviews.
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DO NOT LET ANYONE TALK TO YOU ANOUT THIS MOVIE!!! If you like fun, smart, and and unique genre films, this is the movie for you. I'm not saying its the greatest thing since sliced bread, but this movie absolutely is so easy to spoil by talking about it.
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Broke work at lunch to see it heard so much and Im a huge nerd and a double horror nerd. Was it amusing? Yeah, sure. Everyone said "the trailer was revealing but didnt give it away". Wrong. trailer gave away the entire plot/twist, but to be fair the entre twist is given up in the first minute. Was there a 5 minute strech that made me tingle? You betcha, you know which 5 minutes I speak of. But it wasnt really even a horror movie. Someone compared it to Ghostbusters and I think it is closer to that just without anyone as funny as Mr. Murray. Cant wait to buy it on DVD though to see all of what was going on with the screens in the background
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Thanks for keeping your review as spoiler-free as possible; well played, sir. For those of us who've already seen it, we know that not knowing how it's gonna play out is a large part of this movie's appeal. I saw it at a matinee earlier today. One of those movies where you REALLY start to pay attention once it begins to twist. The Kidd's correct about it being more of a comedy with accents of horror, rather than a straight-up horror movie. Damn entertaining just the same.
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April 13, 2012, 11:35 p.m. CST
List the creatures you glimpsed in the, well, you know what.....(Spolier)
by JGer
Unicorn Bat Millipede zombies ghost/poltergeist Hellraiser guy the Strangers folks Werewolf Cobra Acid Spitting on Faces group (what the hell with that?) Robot Scorpion
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They should have gone balls out with it after they get to the cabin. Seems to drag, and then rush near the end. Lots of pissed off people that will be less inclined to buy into that kind of hyped up movie again.
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Soooo much fun! I completely loved it.
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is that it's smart without beating you over the head with it. So much of the genius of it is what is IMPLIED as far as ramifications on the canon of horror films goes. For example, I love that they indirectly explain how sequels and remakes happen (kids choose a specific fate more than once).
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Shhut up, Beavis.
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Let's not forget that he only co-wrote and produced it. It was co-written and directed by Drew Goddard who knocked it the fuck out of the park. No disrespect meant to Whedon, of course. He'll get his due in about three weeks when that little indie flick about superheroes he's been making comes out.
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the fire alarm went off and they evacuated the theatre. 10 minutes later they let us all back in and then ten minutes after that the fire dept show up and re-evacuated us. After standing outside for 20 minutes this time, they let us back in. 10 minutes after we got seated the lights finally when down and the trailers started. My wife and I thought something might be wrong when all the trailers were for animated movies and we were proved right when the fucking Three Stooges movie started playing. After 10 minutes of that mess the screen went black for a minute and Cabin in the Woods finally started. But after about 5 seconds the screen did that shinking thing which made the top third of the screen black. That took them about 10 minutes to fix. Just wanted to share that. It was totally worth it though. The most original and at the same time cliche horror movie I can remember seeing. Kind of sucks that I didn't get to see the trailers before it. Anything good?
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My favorite part? SPOILER The running joke with the Merman and how it finally paid off.
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Of course the movie isn't scary. It's not supposed to be scary to people who love horror and have seen so much. I doubt many other people will think it is scary either. Who cares. The film is just balls to the walls fun. There are so many great moments that make you laugh and what a payoff in the third act. I just watched it with a great crowd of horror fans and applause was heard at the end. Applause? For a horror film? Just so much fun! Best quote of the year/ and a spoiler is below (so don't read if you want to stay pure) QUOTE: Ok. I'm drawing a line in the fucking sand here! Don't read the Latin. (GOTTA GET THIS ON A TSHIRT) And come on...that moment at the elevators! HAHAHAHA! What a money shot!
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Funny because, as a monster, the Merman really really sucked! Can't wait to DL it, if only so I can read the white board with all the monsters on it, "Sexy Witches" for example. Also want to see what the intern had on his sign on the monitor. Loved all the references, Cenobites, the camera on a plank low view of the cabin, the priceless "Am I on speakerphone" chat with the Harbringer :)
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April 14, 2012, 2:31 a.m. CST
inspectorjason: I hated Darabont's THE MIST because I loved the book. I hated what he did with the ending. Other than that, I mostly love Darabont.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
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Yar, dude. The part where Whitford was fuckin' with The Harbinger on the speakerphone was priceless. Broke down the fourth wall with style. One can only imagine if there's more stuff like that awaiting on a potential "deleted scenes" portion of the eventual DVD. If ONLY one of the basement beasties had been a Medusa-like critter with an Alexandra DuPont head (oldschool AICN reference..... move along; nothing to see here).
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The trend is pretty clear. It's why "geeky" or "nerdy" films get bashed here. It's because a lot of the people commenting here wish they could make horror movies or comic book movies. But they have no talent so they just come here and hate hate hate hate.... Yet when good movies pop up they are too blinded from their own bull shit to enjoy a movie. Wake up and enjoy yourselves ass clowns.
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April 14, 2012, 3:08 a.m. CST
I abjure the Whedonite cult, but this was great fun and I highly recommend it.
by reflecto
I actually hope he does follow this property up with more comics, etc.
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April 14, 2012, 3:13 a.m. CST
i read the 1st and last paragraph of that review..so it wouldn't be spoiled for me...
by darthSaul666
If someone has no testes to kick....kick them in the taint! If you don't know what a taint is then then that's not my problem!
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Yeah, it's about Kate Upton hoochie appeal trumping unknown blonde actress's titties (and hence, PG13 surpassing R as well). Actually, I'd like to see Three Stooges Stuck In A Cabin In The Woods, With Three Boners For Kate Upton. They all try to fuck her, but then the zombies show up and promise only to eat her, but she mistakes "eat" for "lick", and much horror hijinks ensue. Of course Shemp makes a cameo appearance to save the day, but that's beside the point.
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April 14, 2012, 6:52 a.m. CST
Seen it: it's okay, whedons relentless quip and smart ass dialogue isn't my thing (no one actually talks like this except in his tv shows and movies) but it's a nice switch to the genre, except they throw just about every cliche and gag into the final act
by cameron
..give it 7/10 for ideas but a 5/10 for content. Worth a few hours of your time if the weathers shit.
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April 14, 2012, 7:32 a.m. CST
I had a lot of fun, but, man, the audience really seemed to hate this movie, afterwards.
by bat725
I don't think the word of mouth is going to be good among non-nerds.
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April 14, 2012, 8:04 a.m. CST
goddamn I'm a curious muthafucker so its damn hard to keep from spoiling this flick for myself by finding out the ending...
by mdk
...so far, so good though.
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April 14, 2012, 8:07 a.m. CST
Ueah, my guess is thisll tank unfortunately, do to the average clueless moviegoer inDumbfuckistan (red state America) who just doednt have the brains to walk and breathe at the same time...
by mdk
...much less "get" a movie like this.
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I am not a huge horror fan nor do I worship every turd that Whedon pumps out by saying "You just don't get it" as a defense for it not being good. That said I enjoyed it. I thought it was funny, had plenty of gore, and quite a few "twists". The only thing that hurt my overall enjoyment was the lackluster ending and some plot holes in the final 3 minutes. Other than that it was a fun ride and the first Whedon project that has deserved the praise it has received by non-Whedon fanboys.
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i dont consider buffy or angel to be horror of any kind. they r comic book superheroes.
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April 14, 2012, 8:27 a.m. CST
mentaldominance: Did you hear Kings reaction to the Mist's ending?
by scaperone
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He loved it. He said if he had thought of it, he would have ended it that way. FYI.
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...the first Evil Dead and the first Nightmare on Elm Street are both extraordinary horror films. Yes, as series both turned into jokes almost immediately, but both of the original movies are simply brilliant. As someone who clearly loves horror you need to revisit both those movies. Try not to bring the baggage of what came later with you. On the other hand I couldn't agree with you more about The Mist. One of my favorite endings in any King story and Darabont trades it for a shaggy dog joke. Glad to see so many folks who basically agreed with my position on Cabin. This is a great little meta-horror treat for fans of the genre. I sort of loved it. But a game changer? Please. There were no ideas in Cabin that haven't been extensively explored previously. What was great about Cabin was that it was done in a loving, clever style that...yeah...made me feel like a kid while I was watching it. That's good enough. That's better than you usually get. As someone who once wrote a fifteen hundred word essay on how Alex Cox was the future of cinema I know how hard it can be to restrain yourself when you've just seen something you really loved but try to just enjoy it for what it is.
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Don't worry about the ending: It's not the beat all end all...and if you think it is then you may be disappointed (don't spoil it for yourself though)....but the whole third act is where the fun is. What they put on the screen is just like a couple of fan boys wrote their wet dream. And they got it made. I am still laughing about the third act. I will see this again this week. I NEVER go to the movies more than once anymore.
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...Alex Cox was not, in fact, the future of cinema.
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Well said. I described it to some friends later as being the "big boss level" of the genre.
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April 14, 2012, 8:41 a.m. CST
Admittedly, the unicorn scene almost killed the whole movie for me.
by bat725
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Wow. Are you high? I practically ran to see this movie based on your review (and others). Does Joss Whedon own stock in this site? That movie was 7/10 at BEST. There were NO surprises. There was NO twist. The whole plot is laid out in the first 15 minutes of the movie and it stays right on track. It is exactly what you think it is, which is Buffy: Season 5. FAIL. I wish I could type that in even bigger caps. "Don't let anyone ruin this for you!" What could they possibly give away that you don't see in a 30-second commercial? The cabin is being manipulated by a secret underground lab...they show that before they even show the teenagers. It was fun, but not a game-changer. It was as overrated as most of Joss Whedon's stuff is. It's a fun movie, but don't go in thinking you're seeing a 10/10 film or you'll be pissed. Now I have to track down every person I forced to commit to seeing this film and retract my enthusiasm.
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Did you see Mr. King at the Casablanca?
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...first? Who cares? Second? King has had a long and close relationship with Darabont. Third? Read the story. It is thematically a literary riff on a particular brand of horror that was birthed in the fifties and turned darker in the sixties, a kind of horror that all but demanded a warning to watch the sky at the end. In that context the appearance of the army at the end, seemingly operating effectively against what was happening was as serious a misstep as the pimple of a climax Darabont had pasted on the story without even altering the characters from the story to give that pimple a context in which to make it compelling.
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...you've read Ebert's entire (mostly positive) review, though, right? You understand the context in which that was written? And you're familiar enough with Ebert to know his opinion on fanboys?
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April 14, 2012, 9:08 a.m. CST
It's Evil Dead Meets Monsters, Inc. That's the best way I can describe this movie.
by bat725
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April 14, 2012, 9:18 a.m. CST
I love horror movies. I didn't love Cabin in the Woods.
by Karl Hungus
The first half was was fun and smart. The second half, off the rails...and not in a good way. Plus, the "big" reveal was pretty silly. My favorite part was easily the Japanese school subplot. Though Anna Hutchison's tight little ass was fun to watch as it bent over and bounced around. Otherwise? Meh. B-.
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Somewhat familiar with his opinion on fanboys. I did read the whole thing and know the context. I wasn't posting that with intentions of displaying the film's quality. I think it's an apt comparison for the movie.
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So this movie sat on the shelf for like three years...if it came out back then, it would have been totally brilliant. But releasing it in early April 2012...when a little movie called The Hunger Games is on pretty much everyone's mind (even those, like me, who have made a point to avoid it)...completely undermines the originality of this movie. As soon as it was revealed that the whole point was to sacrifice young people by a huge government shadow operation...it immediately felt derivative of Hunger Games. Too bad they picked the worst possible time to release this.
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No one's going to think it's derivative of a movie that came out two weeks ago. They'll just think, "oh that's funny, The Hunger Games dealt with something similar. I wonder why the trend in recent..." No one's dumb enough to think a movie released within weeks of another is derivative of it.....
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That thought crossed my mind, too, but I don't think it's that big a deal. I will say that a couple of people got up and walked out halfway through CITW when I saw it last night. I thought it was ok, but I just don't get all the love this is getting from everyone. Outside of the 3rd act, which is the thing most people are critical of, the highlight of the whole movie was the payoff on the Japanese subplot.
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April 14, 2012, 3:52 p.m. CST
Blue Oyster Cult's song The Old Gods Return would've been lovely over the credits
by Daniel_S_Duvall
It's on an album called Curse of the Hidden Mirror and features lyrics like 'Now is the time the Old Gods return... exactly when the world is not expecting it. Exactly when we're sure of ourselves.'
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April 14, 2012, 4:06 p.m. CST
I don't care if Stephen King said THE MIST is the greatest adaption ever - King is fucking insane. Look at MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE. The man has shit taste in movies. THE MIST was terrible on all fronts.
by MENTALDOMINANCE
Terrible phoney CGI. (Better to show NOTHING AT ALL than those garbage f/x) Terrible acting. Pointless ending - the book ended SO GOOD! Mysterious and you don't know how bad the shit is. In the book, you don't know if the whole world has changed, etc. The movie's ending not only undermines all of the menace of the mist but it's also unbelievable and pointless and a slap in the face. I had bad feelings about the film ever since Darabont said he was going to "film it down and dirty" which essentially meant he isn't going to try very hard or spend any of the painstaking effort and love that he spent on GREEN MILE or SHAWSHANK on it. He basically filmed it like a bad made for TV episode and tacked on an absolutely RETARDED ending.
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April 14, 2012, 4:17 p.m. CST
iwatchmovies : No I saw Stephen King at Sarasota Square
by Obi Wanna Cannoli
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April 14, 2012, 4:19 p.m. CST
bat725 : Evil Dead meets Monsters Inc? That is funny.
by Obi Wanna Cannoli
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The Horror here even if around a joke is always ongoing in, always capturing peoples imagination, always used as a ideological 'weapon' of sorts be it fiction, or the real world, or both combined. The Village at least understood this for all its flaws. From real life incidents like the Mothman case, up to still what I think in our bones we know is going on behind the west memphis 3, go suck a dick if you think movies like this with something to say are just a bit too late. Or I dunno, go watch Kill List and that Hound of the Baskervilles Sherlok ep, friggin Brotherhood of the Wolf, (skip the wicker man remake), and possibly on a slight aside The Signal, and that Masters of Horror ep The Washingtonians, the list goes on. This is always going on, life reflecting art and vice versa, it needs ur attention I'm telling ya. Wh- what's this in my ne... A dart of some... drows-
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April 15, 2012, 7:58 p.m. CST
red ned lynch: my bad...I only formed my opinion based on information from the writer himself.
by scaperone
I should really consider your view as the more relevant point. Thanks for the education.
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...just curiious. Do you think Kubrick's The Shining is a good film?
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Exactly how I felt. It was fun, but I couldn't understand what surprise I wasn't supposed to have ruined for me. Everything's set up in the first 10 minutes. Decent film, but the way it's been oversold is ruining it for a lot of people.
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They're able to collect dozens of monsters but cant even pull off a simple ritual? And what is it with the other countrys? Do they have a big monsterstock too? Not funny or scary at all - just intelligence insulting crap. And a word to all hacks who give birth to such a lame setting: Stop stealing from the classics you watched once in you parents cellar. Go out, learn how the world works and make a movie about it's greatest fears. THATS were the best horrors movies came from.
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