Don't compare to the original and you'll enjoy it more!

Rating: 7/10 (8 May 2013)

We know the story - teens in a remote cabin albeit for a different reason to the usual (sex & booze) who then open the gates of hell and are forced to fight evil and try not to get bumped off in a variety of gruesome ways. All fairly routine so far and, in truth, this is little different to a number of similar films in the past. Cabin In The Woods tried to change the formula but this reverts to type and for all the negative comments, I actually enjoyed it as popcorn-put-brain-in-neutral fodder.
I think the key to 'liking' this is not comparing it to the 80s classic - the story is similar but it's really not a like-for-like remake at all.
I wouldn't call it scary, more an excuse for some gross-out effects - including one with a Stanley knife which is borderline unwatchable - and a couple of scenes which made me squirm (and I've been watching horrors since the late 70s). Equally I did jump on a couple of occasions and actually laughed once (the "my head hurts!" bit!).
People will see it for the same reason as me - I enjoyed the original so I wanted to compare - but try and forget it's a remake and that the title is the same and treat it as a separate film and you'll probably enjoy it more. I did.