Take a simple idea about a group of friend’s travelling to a desolate cabin situated in the most remote forest in America and then stretch your imagination to the furthest extent possible to what may happen to these young holiday-goers. At this point, you’ll be close to what ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ is all about…
The film offers Horror fans a fresh and compelling narrative, something far from your generic teenage slasher flick. Although the genre’s clichéd elements persist, such as the usual tension builds and cut-offs, the overall claustrophobic and restrictive atmosphere is well established and compliments the script impressively and beyond your average scare. Similar to ‘The Hunger Games’, these campers appear to be part of some sort of bigger picture where their peers are located in an unknown location, dictating the every move and circumstance within the cabin and its surroundings. This develops the film, giving it a much more unique and revitalised feel, and raises multiple questions that become explored as the fictional tale progresses. The creators preached how the audience would believe they knew the story, and they are accurate… this is far from anything ordinary in terms of plot and genre.
More than anything, ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ acts as a Saw sequel, rather than a Paranormal Activity knock off. With guts and gore piercing the screen from left and right, it’s difficult to take seriously but does act as one hell of a thrill ride. Its believability factor sustains itself at the wrong end, but did anyone actually go into the film hoping for something realistic and relatable? I certainly didn’t, and with excessive gore, dramatic killings and an extensive array of villains, it’s no wonder why people are coming out of this film raving.
It’s fair to say that ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ is not the best movie to grace our screens, but it’s certainly enthralling. It shines a light in a dark corner; it produces a drip from that empty bottle; it gives Horror the spark it so desperately needed. With great acting, a compelling plot and an all round entertainment package for the Horror enthusiast; ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ is undeniably worth your time!
