In “The Cabin in the Woods,” what appears to be little more than a run-of-the-mill horror film becomes one of the most interesting and exceptionally awesome takes on the genre audiences have seen in years.
On a base level, the film is about a group of young college co-eds going on a weekend vacation at a family member’s cabin in the woods. If that sounds like the plot of a million other horror films, that’s because it is. It is this stereotype that the film plays with in such great ways, both from a character and a story standpoint.
While Fran Kranz (who formally worked with Whedon in the short-lived series Dollhouse) is great as the lovable and harmless stoner character, Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins quickly steal the show as two unexpected characters that make an appearance early on in the film.
Oddly, the movie was filmed in its entirety in 2009 prior to Hemsworth’s blockbuster performance as Thor in the film of the same name. Production issues and disputes over a possible 3D post-conversion led to the film being shelved until its release just a few weeks ago.
It is impossible to explain all of the reasons that “The Cabin in the Woods” is such an interesting and refreshing take on horror films without spoiling much of what makes it great. This is a film that toys with the audience’s expectations from the very first scene and continues to throw you for a loop right till the very end. If you enjoy horror films, this is a must see. Just avoid as many trailers, in-depth reviews, and Wikipedia as long as you can. The movie will be much more enjoyable if you do.
“The Cabin in the Woods” is out now in area theaters.
