Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. I won’t be revealing anymore than that in this review because honestly, the less you know about this film the better it is and I don’t want to spoil anything. I’m even starting regret seeing the trailer. However, it still had me guessing where it was going all the way through, like seeing a dog in the street and anticipating a woof but instead it meows. As soon as you’re settled as to what is going to happen next, witnessing every cliché and thinking you’ve sussed it the film slaps you round the face and laughs at your stunned expression. A film like “The Cabin In The Woods” doesn’t come round too often and I absolutely loved it.

Playful, mischievous, energetic and refreshing, “The Cabin In The Woods” is made for real horror fanatics, a well constructed horror film engine that’s daring horror fans to attempt to take it apart, it takes ideas from other films and makes them completely original. After seeing this film I had a similar feeling as to when I watched “Scream” for the first time, merging horror and comedy in way that works incredibly well and criticizes itself at the same time. Granted it needed more scares because it didn’t really scare me and i’m sure it won’t others too, I’m not saying that everyone will like it either but I hope most will see it as a breath of fresh air, a good modern horror film that is unique and different – even though you think it isn’t. Playing with conventions and stereotypes – to the point of a female character dying her hair in the film as if purposely becoming the dumb blonde – the writers Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (also director) are trying to revitalize the horror genre after being tired (as am I) of seeing torture porn. No story, no interesting characters just nothing but blood, guts and gore it isn’t scary or entertaining, Embarrassing Bodies is probably more frightening.
I don’t even want to reveal the films referenced because part of my enjoyment was trying to guess what was from where. Instead i’ll reveal my problem with the film, as I said earlier I just wanted it to be scarier. It’s got it’s fair share of jumpy moments but a clap can make you jump, I wanted genuine terror. If I got genuine terror I presume I would of found the comedic moments funnier too, because i’d be on edge constantly and the slightest bit of relief would’ve made me laugh. Made in 2009 and stuck on the shelf because of MGM declaring bankruptcy there may have been a fear this wouldn’t get released, but boy am I glad it did. Not just for the mind blowing thrills and flabbergasting enjoyment it’ll give to audiences worldwide but for spitting in the face of what the horror genre has become.