You Probably Won't Like it but I did

Rating: 9/10 (20 April 2012)

When I like a film I always spend some time on IMDb reading the "hated it" reviews and I'm constantly surprised by what I read. Obviously, a lot of people really hated this one and, whilst I might not take a lot of these seriously as they are little more than rants and SHOUTING, others have a more considered take on the film's shortcomings.
I'm a fan of Joss Whedon's work so I'm predisposed to like what he does (yes I know he was only co-writer and not the director). The dialogue and sensibilities though are clearly Whedonesque in character and some of the actors previously cast in Angel and Dollhouse are prominent in the cast. There's no doubt this is a meta-film and whilst I started off thinking this was an elitist approach that is bound to alienate many, it is actually true about any great movie or work of art that it is about the state of the media in which its realised.
Many of the references made in this film assume a familiarity with the horror genre, not just of horror films themselves but of literary references that have influenced horror. I would be surprised if most fans of the genre did not enjoy this on some level but the reviews here sometimes say otherwise. I will observe the convention that most other reviews have observed in not commenting on the developments that feature in the second part of the movie although I will say that I do not think the parallels with the Truman Show that some have drawn are really relevant. (Because nowhere is it implied or stated that there is an audience beyond the technicians).
In the past I have often commented on poor CGI in films and this one has some quite dodgy CGI sequences but in this case I didn't mind. They are over so quickly and in some cases are so cheesy that I just treated them as part of the fun.
I really, really liked Cabin in the Woods but you probably won't.