Cabin in the Woods

The story takes place in a cabin in the woods, as you may have already guessed just by reading the title. But there's much more to this cabin than what it looks like. If you are going by the commercials, you would have been misled on the plot of the movie. This is not a spoiler because the film actually starts out with this anonymous company that has pretty much led these 5 college students to this location. The cabin and the surrounding area has been set up with an array of electronically controlled devices that will basically allow the company to create it's own horror movie with the unsuspecting youngsters as the "stars". From the control room, their movements and reactions are being manipulated. The reasons for this is not revealed until the end, and the actual twist is revealed.

Directed and co-written by Drew Goddard and co-written and produced by Joss Whedon. (Buffy the Vampire Slyer and Angel) It stars Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.

Who will like this movie

Certain aspects of the original Scream movie and Drag Me to Hell came up through this movie. I think it would be good for those who like horror movies, but are not really so much into gore. It is funny at times and not too many of the "startle scares" that have become a staple of horror movies today. Enough elements to be considered a date movie.

Phantom Thoughts

As I was watching this movie, I was in. I got it. I liked the premise of what they were trying to accomplish. Here's this company, the American one of many throughout the world, that has rigged a remote area to become it's own horror movie. These kids are brought in and a series of things happen to lead them to the basement. Down there are a plethora of miscellaneous items all just sitting there to be discovered. However each item represents a different way to die. (I love the fact that the people watching from the control room have a pool going on which item is picked, releasing a different horror). Redneck zombies happen to be the one that wins out (don't worry...not that much of a spoiler) and the fun begins.

To be honest, I figured that this company was just dealing in some kind of fear simulation and that at some point, something would "go wrong" and the bad nasties that were unleashed really do kill the kids instead of just scaring them. But I was wrong. The company is actually TRYING to kill these kids off one by one and the mystery continues as to why until the end of the film. Coming from the guys who created Buffy and Angel (there is an Angel alum who plays a good part in the movie) it had a lot of little jokes at itself and horror movies in general that I liked. It had that feel of those shows as well. They make reference to the standard "boob shot" in every horror movie, which is provided in this one by Anna Hutchison.
SPOILER: One of the great sci-fi actresses makes a cameo at the end as the director of the company: Sigorney Weaver.

But here's my problem with it...they have this very unique and interesting idea, right? But there has to be a reason WHY this company would be doing that. That's where it seemed like they just said "Well...let's just do...uhmmm...THIS". I won't spoil it for you who will want to see it, but I was very much unimpressed.
SPOILER: There is a great blood bath scene with every single kind of horror movie monster you can think of and good, but not great effects that go with it. See if you can spot all the different references to other movies that were thrown in.

Little known fact: This movie was filmed and finished in 2009. But with the bankrupcy issuses of MGM at the time, the movie was delayed and eventually sold to Lionsgate, who released it April 13th 2012.

This was a simulated Wrong Turn movie that took a very wrong turn at the end. Until next time, see you in the center seat!