Genre-Gasm & Horror Love Letter

Rating: 7/10 (27 October 2015)

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012) A Review by JP February 5, 2015
GGGEEK-GGGASM I've been a devout fan of this genre-bending orgy of shrewd, cliché-exposing (& utilizing) elements since its release just under 3 years ago. With a sales rank like an offline used copy of Stephen King's novel "It", "The Cabin in the Woods" is one of the rarities people seek out for purchase in a physical format. Ginger Geek God Joss Whedon, creator of "TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1996-2003) & director of "Marvel's The Avengers" (2012) collaborated with Drew Goddard (TV's Lost Producer, World War Z Screenwriter, & this film's director), an unknown (& apparent horror aficionado) at the time – and under the veil of a simple slasher flick brought serenity (geek puns intended of course) to a basic concept, turned it on its ear, flipped it over, dashed it with a touch of nearly every category of film, and pumped-out one insane, intense, hilarious, grotesque, maddening, silly, intentionally-ridiculous social satire. It occurred to me while showing it to a reluctant horror-hater that this film had even more layers than I'd truly embraced upon earlier views. With few exceptions, the sad slasher sub-genre is reverse-endowed with a thoughtless equation that has filled both theaters & studios' wallets since the late '70s (right around my birth). There are few exceptions. This is one of the best.
THE CAST IN THE WOODS (& BEYOND) The standard-issued castfor the horror filmwith the stereotypical whore, jock, scholar, stoner, & the "innocent virgin" worked well for the most part with: an overly-pheromone'd Anna Hutchison (TV's Spartacus); sexxxy-with-shorter-hair Thor aka Chris Hemsworth (Red Dawn)-who totally channeled Josh Hartnett from Halloween: H20 (1998) (though I am in NO WAY complaining); smirk-cheeked, Mochaccino, godly-blue-eyed (& bodied) Jesse Williams (TV's Grey's Anatomy); ironically-written*/often helium-voiced toke-stoker Fran Kranz (The Village); and perky-lipped, bright-eyed Kristen Connolly (TV's The Bay). Stud-strutted Bradley Whitford (TV's West Wing) & "moves-like-Jagger" Richard Jenkins (The Witches of Eastwick) finagle thetheI guess I could say "sub-plot"(sorry, it's REALLY difficult not to drop a spoiler with this one) and the 2 suit-&-tie, HR-reported-daily fellows add worthy cheese & momentary empathy to balance this complex tale of crazy good facets I'm shocked "Cabin" managed to convince a green light from even Lions Gate Entertainment. No disrespect LGE, but if I chose to be disrespectful, I could cite a series of torture porn known as the "Saw" films. Obviously GGG Whedon's impressive (or buff-y) résuméor perhaps the highly-manipulative demonic invading his soulless gingerly, nom-worthy shell cast a spell. I couldn't say for sure, but I'm glad it got funded! Just when you think you have it all figured-out, *!!!!!G-G-Ginger S'Nap Slap Beyotch!!!!!*, everything changes. Information is givenwhen it is intended to be questioned.
5G NETWORK Technically, dark lighting & slick cinematography by Peter Deming (Scream 2-4, Mulholland Drive) added to the gloom vividly which complemented the genuine fright it built oh-so-very-delicately. Considering the scope of this story, I sometimes forget just how under your skin it burrows. That's a credit to GGG & the Great Goddard. Yes, I can call him Great from one film. That should be the best indicator of how inventive & intriguing this impaling-unicorn of a gem is, but the 5-Gs can't take all the credit. Much like Hitchcock owes an immense wealth of gratitude to legendary "Psycho" (1960) composer Bernard Herrmann for the success of that film, the 5-Gs should bow to an intense, booming score by David Julyan (Memento, The Descent).
DAWN APPROACHES I would love to go on for another 570 words, but I didn't mean to go this long. To close: at least 4-Stars-Worthy, "The Cabin in the Woods" is a love letter to horror, sci-fi, comedy, and probably every other genre in the celluloid spectrum; one of the most enjoyable gore-fests attainable (even to those who hate bloody films). One warning: if you have phobia(s)don't be distracted by the potential of it popping-up. It will.