The Cabin in the Woods

Horror dreams come true… Honestly, you won’t die of fear, but if you don’t share the relatively widespread senseless conviction that horror should be taken with the utmost seriousness, you are in for a lot of fun. Mixing horror with humour is a tricky thing. I’m not a fan of films labelled “horror comedies”, like Dead Snow or Beetlejuice, because mostly they are effective only in the humour, and I feel that the use of horror properties is a bit of a provocation, like saying “we could have made a great horror movie, but better come in and have a laugh”. The Cabin in the Woods is something else, it’s not a horror comedy proper, but horror that the creators aren’t afraid to spice up with a pinch (or two) of humour and light-heartedness, constantly playing with all sorts of clichés, peeks “behind the curtains” (you’ll understand when you watch it) and an utterly insane and incredibly fun climax that’s total carnage, lasts for about twenty minutes and it’s like a horror fan’s dreams come true. It’s hard to say how those who don’t follow the genre much will appreciate it, but I was thrilled by it and played it again right away. Everybody knew The Cabin in the Woods wouldn’t be your typical ruined trip to the mountains, but it’s not even what I was expecting from the trailer (which I thought was full of spoilers), and that was a pleasant shock. Really great. So far, the best, most original and most fun horror movie of the year, and I can’t recommend it enough. I would spoil it if I said more… Shame on the Czech cinema distribution. - "The evil is defeated. Now Kiko's soul will live in the happy frog!" - "Fuuuuuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!" :-D :-D :-D (15/08/2012)

I've never seen a movie like this and I probably never will again. This is a horror where everything that has always been perceived as “classical horror elements” is turned upside down and you struggle to keep up. Enough said! This is just one of those movies where it’d be a shame to say anything more. Just watch it and then let me know how shocked you were so that more people decide to watch it. I think that should do it. (14/07/2014)

Excellent parody of all the clichés you can only find in horror movies. Admittedly, I wasn't really on board in the beginning and thought it was a load of crap, but then it picked up and gained momentum and I couldn't do anything but cheer for the stoner – he was just awesome. Plus, the ending was actually pretty unexpected and funny, and I was generally very pleased. Probably the best thing I've seen in the genre; too bad about the slow and unexciting start. (19/07/2013)

Joss Whedon is not only a name in Hollywood, but a worldwide phenomenon when it comes to original screenwriting. He is bursting with ideas from every direction, and when he manages to bring something to completion, it is often an event. Or maybe not, because he is also able to fascinatingly kill some ideas. If there is something really interesting about The Cabin in the Woods, it's the concept that combines the good old Lovecraft style with modern teen massacre stories and plenty of horror props, all presented with a sympathetic perspective. The trouble is that The Cabin in the Woods is cluttered, and unfinished, oscillating between several genres, and what it does best, namely comedy, is hardly mentioned. Drew Goddard lacks directorial experience and probably even sufficient cinematic sensitivity to give the film a style, comb through Whedon's ideas, and above all, imprint it with atmosphere. Scenes that are potentially horror-inducing do not evoke fear. Those that could be suspenseful are rushed or wasted. The ironic elements do work, but they could be much more effective - they don't even come close to the best works of Sam Raimi. In the end, the film turned out to be a disappointment, although it cannot be said that it is a complete waste of time. I have no problem watching The Cabin in the Woods once, but I won't go back to it. Overall impression: 55%. (01/12/2013)

Unimaginable madness, what initially appears to be a routine horror flick, gradually transforms into something incredibly inventive and new. It reminded me the most of the TV series Lost, which was very popular at the time, meaning that if you don’t watch it until the very end, you will either understand nothing at all or very little. Cabin in the Woods is a sophisticated game with the viewer, setting its own rules within the genre and having absolutely no problem with it, something that can definitely not be said about every film in such a trash genre. (07/06/2013)

Three stars, because the best came at the end. Until then, The Cabin in the Woods was nothing more than an unoriginal rip-off of Evil Dead full of expected scares, which the writers at least commendably spiced up with irresistible black humor, for which I thank you.__P.S. (04/11/2012)

WOW! I can’t think of a better way to describe this film. If you're expecting a classic mindless bloodfest that becomes routine, stupid and predictable after the first kill, you're completely wrong. Cabin in the Woods is a true genre blast and probably the most modern and stylish horror film in years. Take this in any way you want, because the biggest mistake would be if I were to give you any significant approximation of what happens on screen. Screw the reviews and the synopsis, just go ahead and enjoy it. This is worthy horror! 85% (20/08/2012)

When I watched the movie "Cabin in the Mountains" and heard about the excitement that struck among horror fans, I had a feeling that I missed something. One hundred percent ratings are absolutely absurd. However, it is said that the film is the best thing that was made in the genre in 2012. Furthermore, it is emphasized that it is the most original. It is unbelievable contradiction when we realize that basically everything in the movie is very unoriginal. You will have the feeling that you are watching "Evil Dead" for a while, then "Cube", and I wouldn't be surprised if you had similar feelings as when watching "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil". There is really very little originality here. The most original thing is the fact that the unoriginal is creatively combined into one whole which surprisingly works. On one hand, it is new and unconventional, despite being unoriginal. "Cabin in the Mountains" draws inspiration from the long history of horror and uses it to present us with essentially just an ordinary horror comedy. It is not a light comedy that does not have dull moments, it does. But the story is so interesting that it can captivate you. The originality of execution and connection of seemingly unrelated elements works. The debunking of horror myths also works. It doesn't matter then, that the film turns into a typical B-movie at the end, which has exhausted all ideas and is just trying to finish it off. It is good. Against my will, I have to say that it is a good film. Unoriginal, newly conceived, good. I didn't laugh like crazy, but some jokes were really good here. Good lines and especially references to old beautiful movies. Nevertheless, I think it's sad where horror is heading. Will we praise unoriginal films just because it is simply not possible to create anything that would blow our minds anymore? Have all the original ideas really run out and all that's left is to recycle and try to look at it differently? Remakes, plundering of classics, parodying them, which also happens in this case, and of course, the effort to twist it a little. Long live the strange world where the best thing is what has already been made and everything new is only criticized, often rightly so. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/10/prach-uspesna-pokracovani-animaku.html (01/03/2013)

Of course this formula scheme is soooooo tired and the ripoff of the greatest classics so obvious that it won’t be missed even by an average cinephile viewer. Still, there remains the fact that it's pretty nicely shot and that the million times warmed-over "high school" stereotype, as far as the characters are concerned, keeps you entertained with its predictability and infinite stupidity (the jock, the blonde b*tch, the geek/stoner, the naive virgin...). As much as I hate to admit it, I give a big plus for the elevator scene, because there was some semblance of originality there and it was filmed very impressively indeed. All in all, quite a delectable one-time treat. Even so, history will not be rewritten and Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead can rest in peace (in my opinion, at least until death). (02/11/2013)

I expected the film to scare me. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the abundance of gory nastiness and genre clichés that I've long had my fill of in various B-horror films. I appreciate the idea, but I was by no means impressed by the film's treatment of it. (30%) (14/07/2020)