Don't Read from the Book

Rating: 9/10 (18 October 2017)

This movie operates on so many levels. It functions as your basic horror movie (with another horror movie under the surface—literally and figuratively). It parodies all the moments in a specific sub-genre that make a recognizable plot for the audience. It also gives answers for those questions about subjects that often baffle moviegoers even as we take them for granted.
The horror movie genre has long been considered the redheaded bastard stepchild of the movie industry. Early horror movies suffered from poor plots, lousy acting, substandard scripts, cheap sets and awful special effects. When so many modern imitators follow the same basic plot lines, it's no wonder that audiences get bored and Academy voters give them a miss. The Academy Awards were first held in 1929 but it took 63 years for a horror film to win Best Picture award: "Silence of the Lambs" in 1992.
The "teenagers holed up in a rustic lodge" is an immediately identifiable horror subcategory. It's basically taking human beings, shutting them up in an inescapable confined area and watching what happens to and between them.
The makers of "The Cabin in the Woods" recognize certain problems with this field and turn them neatly on their head. This movie provides the viewers with credible reasons behind why the characters behave the way they do.
Why is there a creepy old guy giving mystic warnings? Why are there always different specific types of teenagers? Why do they have sex outdoors on the uncomfortable ground when there are perfectly good beds indoors? Why do they go down to a creepy basement (and it's always a creepy basement)? Why do they split up when there's safety in numbers? Why is there always a monster (and so many varied kinds of monsters)? Why are the victims killed in such grotesque ways? Why can they never escape? Why do they never call for help? (This one is particularly puzzling in the modern age; do none of them think to bring or use cell phones? Why is there never a working landline?) Why does the virgin (usually) survive? "The Cabin in the Woods" gives loving homage to the horror genre and the subtext makes this movie truly memorable. It speaks to the inventiveness of the various people working behind the scenes and on screen. It's fun, amusing, witty, creative and truly horrific. It's an instant classic. The fact that it polarizes the critics here is a good sign. You either hate or love this film but it doesn't leave you indifferent.