Once in a very rare while, a movie comes along that completely revolutionizes an entire genre. Such films leave an indelible impression on their audiences and become the cinematic benchmarks that inspire impassioned conversations for years to come. Horror-comedy 'The Cabin in the Woods' confidently fits into this elite category. Watching the masterful work of writers Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon unfold onscreen is a fantastic experience filled with moments of genuine suspense and macabre humor. Other horror writers are quaking in their boots.
I must be honest, the thought of subjecting myself to a typical horror movie, with all its cheap jump scares and cheesy “Don’t go in there, you idiot!” level of writing, normally fills me with much more dread than the movie itself could induce. So many of the genre’s plots and themes feel absurdly formulaic, designed with just enough respect for the audience’s intelligence that they hopefully don’t realize they’ve essentially seen the same movie dozens of times. One does not come out of Friday the 13th or Jason X saying, “I did not see that coming!” Everyone knows that all the stupid, disposable characters are supposed to die and that the credits will roll soon after. This is conventional horror storytelling, and it has become a tired joke. 'Cabin' knows all of this and feels the same way I do, and that’s why I love it to death. It is simultaneously an open mockery of its contemporaries’ shortcomings and a celebration of their potential.
The film begins with a standard group of high school kids heading out to a (spoiler alert!) cabin in the woods for a nice bit of r&r. All of the stock characters are present: Chris Hemsworth as the athletic pretty boy; Anna Hutchinson as the feisty blonde bombshell; Jesse Williams as the tag-along friend; Fran Kranz as the hapless stoner; Kristen Connolly as the innocent goody-two-shoes. When they arrive at the cabin, they discover that the quaint abode may be hiding something sinister within its dark depths. It isn’t long before their nice vacation turns into a twisted nightmare. I know, I know. “I’ve seen that description countless times on the back of the DVDs I shamefully rent, hoping no one will laugh at my terrible tastes. What’s so special about this movie?” 'Cabin' takes these tropes and gives them a unique spin, asking you to laugh a little at the triteness of the business as usual model. Then, it asks you to wipe that grin off your face and look into the core mechanics of each and every convention, giving them a scope they’ve never had in any other horror film.
“Why?” is the central question here. “Why do the kids always make the stupid decision to split up right before they are picked off, one by one?” “Why don’t they just leave?” “Why are the monsters always trying to harsh the stoner’s mellow?” The answers the film gives to these age-old questions are so clever and original....I can’t tell you anything about them. As I said in the note, that would be telling. Suffice it to say, you will walk out of the theater (or get up off the couch and brush off the Cheeto crumbs) rethinking everything you thought you knew about the genre. There is a more grandiose plot beneath the surface narrative that overturns expectations and blows minds. This is what horror movies could be.
All of that would mean nothing if there weren’t things to enjoy on the basic level. Another element that separates 'Cabin' from the pack is the writers’ ability to craft genuinely likable, sympathetic characters. As initially stereotypical as they might seem, the young vacationers grow into characters you genuinely care for. They are more than what they appear to be. Goddard and Whedon use these characters as vehicles for lightning-quick dialogue, laugh-out-loud humor (see the stoner’s coffee container/bong/lethal weapon combo), and spine-tingling suspense. I can’t tell you how many times I said to the guy next to me, “Oh, did you see THAT?!?!” He just scowled and told me to shut up, though (Jerk. Couldn’t he see how much I was enjoying the movie? The nerve of some people...). A lot of credit goes to Godard’s debut directorial effort, which gives the proceedings a sure-footed feel and a pacing that never lets up. The first two acts are great buildup to a 20 minute climax that is the perfect emotional and visceral payoff (at this point, the jerk looked like he was about ready to punch me in the face). Seriously, there’s so much blood in the final moments, it would make 'Mortal Kombat' characters cringe.
'The Cabin in the Woods' is an expertly crafted film that combines an intellectually stimulating, multi-layered story with pure thrills and capable characterization. Every other postmodern horror-comedy will be compared to this masterpiece. What’s old is made new again through astonishing ambition and a clear, purposeful deconstructionist vision. I’m excited for other writers to learn from this example in the future, and you will be too.
Cannon’s rating: 10/10