It's almost extremely clever...

Rating: 6/10 (20 May 2016)

"Cabin in the Woods" was a very frustrating film for me to watch. While the movie did a great job in explaining WHY we keep seeing all those dumb clichés in hack 'em up movies (such as the bimbo who dies first and the dumb jock), it ultimately allowed itself to, in the end, be just about as dumb and mindless as a typical hack and slash film. It's a real shame, as for so much of the movie it kept my attention.
The film is a twist on the usual young adults being murdered in the woods film because you soon see that all this is being orchestrated by a group of people working in a weird base underground. Exactly why and who they are isn't known until later...all you know is that these folks watch EVERYTHING that's happening to a group of victims and they even bet as to what is going to happen next. It's all very clever and the actual explanation is a mixed bag. On the one hand it does explain things pretty well but on the other, it just degenerates into a giant bloodbath that seems to value blood and chaos more than sticking with the underlying plot.
The bottom line is that the film is a near miss...a film that almost works superbly. Instead, the ending just lost me amid the chaos. For my time and money, I much preferred "Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil"...much more complete and enjoyable anti-hacker sort of film. This was a disappointment...as was seeing the gorgeous Chris Hemsworth...but without his usual blonde head of hair!