The Ultimate Treat

Rating: 10/10 (24 April 2012)

One of the best compliments a horror picture can get is that the suspense worked, and it was really spooky. It has been ages since this has happened in a film like this, "Cabin in The Woods" goes a step further than some of the classics, whether it follows a straightforward narrative or it approaches its main themes in an innovative way. This film will probably end up pleasing most of those who see it because it has a lot to offer to just about any member of the audience.
It all starts in the expected way, with five college students spending some vacation time in an isolated location, doing every little thing that can get them in trouble, and most of the plot for the first half of the film follows the expected pattern, with an interesting subplot slowly developing in the background. Soon, "Cabin" begins to show how impressive it is.
What makes the film so good is that it keeps surprising you, even when you think you have figured its angles. Stereotypes soon turn into something else, minor characters begin to resonate in unexpected ways, and the jolts are genuine, as we see them in a refreshing perspective. It'd be cruel to reveal some of the developments in the last third of the film, but here is where most of the fun is.
The audience is in for a treat as myths are revisited, some story lines are spun in, well, cool ways, and there is even a special appearance by a beloved figure near the end of the film. In the end, be prepared to relish a visual feast, with many a chance to enjoy a good scare, a good laugh, and to appreciate that as long as people have imagination, we will be pleasantly surprised.