Good fun comedy horror film with a strong inventive twist. This film is very meta in a good way.

Rating: 8/10 (15 April 2012)

I had heard some good rumors about this film but went in to the cinema pretty unaware of the films plot. I had watched the trailer before viewing the film and like most people felt it gave away too much up front. Fear not the trailer gives away only one real twist of the film.
On to the movie itself. People in the woods and sh*t starts to go wrong. Thats about all you need to know about the film, and that it is more of a comedy than a straight up horror film. If you go in wanting to be scared then you could come away disappointed. However If you are a fan of the horror/comedy genre then this film is for you.
The acting is average, but a good kind of average. The film relies more on humor, premise and visuals over straight up acting. The actors do a good job of making their characters likable to the audience which keeps you invested long into the second act where the big twist really comes to the fore. Fran Kranz deserves mention as the funniest and best realized of the characters though this is probably due more to how he was written than anything else. Also quick nod to Anna Hutchison for a fun make out scene.
The films visuals are pretty good for a 30 million dollar budget but there are a few effects that could have been beefed up a bit. The soundtrack didn't leave much of an impression but it served it purpose. The films pacing is good through out even if it does lose itself a little at the end of the film. Which if I did have any complaints that would be it, the ending isn't bad it is just not as good as the lead up to it.
To conclude "The cabin in the woods" is a fun film. Not the best horror or comedy film you will see this year but certainly inventive and well executed. In the congested horror genre that too often relies of reusing old material well past the sale by date "The Cabin in the woods" feels new and fresh, a real treat for fans of the genre.