Review: The Cabin in the Woods

The Cabin in the Woods is a movie that I've been waiting to see for years. Literally. It was originally supposed to come out in 2010, but it's distributor went the way of the dodo. Then, the geniuses at Lionsgate wanted to convert the film into a needless 3D conversion (and after seeing it, I can say that a 3D conversion would have not only been unneeded, but pointless) that the filmmakers vehemently fought against. *NOTE: They actually won, and the film was released in it's originally intended 2D.* Finally, it was released on Friday, April 13. Spoiler Alert: it was well worth the wait.

And it stars a clean-cut Thor!

Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard deconstructed just about every horror movie since the genesis of the slasher when they wrote (and Goddard directed) this picture, and they did it such a way that makes you never have to see a "horror" film again...but, if you do, you gain an extra layer of enjoyment.

Yup. These schmucks.

What makes this movie work is the intertwining stories. Now, on the surface, you have the cliched story of five college friends (of not-so-surprisingly-familiar stereotypes) that head out to a cabin...that happens to be in the woods...for a weekend of fun & drinking...and probably drugs & sex. Sounds familiar, right? Fantastic! That's the point. The other story is about a group of employees of a...well...that'd be more spoilery than I want to get. The thing is, the audience really has no clue what they are doing for a good part of the film, except that they are keeping tabs on and influencing the college kids' decisions.

That IS Oscar nominated Richard Jenkins in front of a white board that says "Angry Molesting Tree" on it!

As the film goes on, the kids realize that things aren't what they seem. They also start dying. But things don't go as predicted, and it's up to the two "administrators" that have been monitoring them (played hilariously by the aforementioned Richard Jenkins & Bradley Whitford) to make sure they all die. Hijinx ensues. No, seriously, this movie is so unbelievably funny. And it has a sick cast.

It does get a little creepy-wierd at points, but the good kind.

Without further ado, here is the review:

Movie: 5 out of 5 Stars

Whedonesque-ness: 5 out of 5 Beloved Characters that are Tragically Murdered

Woodsiness: 5 out of 5 "Scarecrow Folk"

Once again: Whiteboard that says "Angry Molesting Tree!"

Go see it. Twice. No, wait. See it thrice.