Don't Go in the Cellar! Or the Elevator, for That Matter. Or the Janitor's Closet. Or the....

Rating: 8/10 (2 October 2012)

A pretty insanely entertaining horror comedy that is far more interested in deconstructing the genre than it is in providing its audience with any legitimate scares.
Five obligatory college kids go off to a cabin that looks an awful lot like the one from "The Evil Dead," only to accidentally awaken from slumber a family of deranged hillbilly zombies. We then are treated to all of the typical conversations and actions that college kids in these kinds of movies would seem perpetually forced to go through and that we've seen a hundred times before, until the movie reveals that these kids ARE being forced through their paces and that we've seen this a hundred times before because someone WANTS us to see it a hundred times.
The big reveal in this movie isn't that much of a reveal. The film is way too well written to overly rely on a gimmick. It sets the stage in its first scene, and develops its conceit through funny writing and clever plotting, not through major twists and "gotcha!" moments.
In our age of instant gratification, it's probably pointless to try to keep movie secrets secret. Discussions with spoilers are started on message boards before the audience has even left the theatre. But if you're interested in "The Cabin in the Woods," try to go into it knowing as little about it as possible. Knowing the general premise won't ruin your enjoyment of the movie, but it's still a film best experienced fresh.
Grade: A