Cabin in the Woods. Ideas Up Front.

Rating: 4/10 (21 May 2015)

The Cabin in the Woods (2012): Dir: Drew Goddard / Cast: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams: While the previews spew off promises of ominous thrills of forbidden evils, the screenplay quickly unravels to reveal a total mess complete with every moron stereotype that the screenwriter could muster up. The premise seems familiar yet it works up to an extent. Five college students travel to an isolated cabin not realizing that the place is bugged and they're being watched. The viewers are scientist types cheering, betting, giving high fives, and all around manipulating what occurs to these victims. The first mistake is a venture down a dark cellar where objects are handled and the Latin spell of a book is read. This unleashes zombies that originally occupied the cabin. These victims are chosen specifically for a certain element. Chris Hemsworth is the athlete, Anna Hutchison is the sexually active, Jesse Williams is the intellect, Fran Kranz is the dope smoking fool, and Kristen Connolly is tagged as the virgin. None of them emerge with personalities but director Drew Goddard makes great references to films such as The Evil Dead. The third act is bizarre and leaves a severe sense of dread. Why these films insists on a future of hellish fatality gives one the belief that its makers have no faith in the reality of good. The special effects are inventive, graphic and pretty much steal the film. If you have the desire to watch people suffer for the entertainment of others, then this film is for you. For a superior choice, I recommend The Hunger Games. Score: 4 / 10