by Alli Kett
Straight up, I’m putting it out there; The Cabin in the Woods (2012) is one of those films that you have to see to get. Revealing too much will wreck your viewing of the film. The basic plot is that five teenagers take a break to a cabin in the woods owned by a distant relative. On the way to the cabin in the woods, they stop to get gas and are confronted by an old man, clearly a redneck hillbilly, the likes of which we’ve seen in a gazillion films. He warns of the coming dangers and ends by insulting the group. Then, as the group leave the gas station, said redneck-hillbilly makes a telephone call to office employees, Sitterson and Hadley, a most excellent pairing of Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. This is not our first clue that something is off, but the comedic promise of this film really lifts off from here. As Sitterson and Hadley laugh at the redneck-hillbilly’s passion, the audience is sitting there, wondering what in the Alliance is going on.
Straight up, I’m putting it out there; The Cabin in the Woods (2012) is one of those films that you have to see to get. Revealing too much will wreck your viewing of the film. The basic plot is that five teenagers take a break to a cabin in the woods owned by a distant relative. On the way to the cabin in the woods, they stop to get gas and are confronted by an old man, clearly a redneck hillbilly, the likes of which we’ve seen in a gazillion films. He warns of the coming dangers and ends by insulting the group. Then, as the group leave the gas station, said redneck-hillbilly makes a telephone call to office employees, Sitterson and Hadley, a most excellent pairing of Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. This is not our first clue that something is off, but the comedic promise of this film really lifts off from here. As Sitterson and Hadley laugh at the redneck-hillbilly’s passion, the audience is sitting there, wondering what in the Alliance is going on.
The five youth soon find themselves conforming to horror tropes that we all recognise, the Athlete, the Virgin, the Whore, the Stoner and the Scholar. These horror tropes are effective because you see the youth changing into tropes, changing from their distinctive personality traits shown as the film opens. For example, the Athlete confounds youth in film stereotypes and begins the film as a student with a major in Neurology, not exactly the stuff of wrestling brawn. You recognise these tropes for what they are, shortcuts to a story. All genres have shortcuts that are used to cut to the heart of the story, it can move a story along without the need for extraneous exposition. The key to this film is the love of horror the filmmakers have. They use the tropes to demonstrate the audience’s reliance on stereotypes, but these also serve as a story mechanism which you’ll see unfolding later in the film.
Cabin in the Woods is directed and written by new-comer Drew Goddard. Goddard collaborated with Joss Whedon to write this film and that’s why it works. Goddard had previously written for Whedon’s TV shows Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and Angel. Having also done some writing for Alias and Lost, Goddard knows something about creating tension onscreen. Whedon’s clever and witty writing garnered much deserved plaudits following the creation of cultural phenomenon, TV show, Buffy, The Vampire Slayer.
Cabin in the Woods is directed and written by new-comer Drew Goddard. Goddard collaborated with Joss Whedon to write this film and that’s why it works. Goddard had previously written for Whedon’s TV shows Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and Angel. Having also done some writing for Alias and Lost, Goddard knows something about creating tension onscreen. Whedon’s clever and witty writing garnered much deserved plaudits following the creation of cultural phenomenon, TV show, Buffy, The Vampire Slayer.
Alli in character at LFCC this year His reputation since writing and helming The Avengers (2012) has only been on the up and up. Whedon has often spoken about the genesis of Buffy being he was sick of seeing pretty blonde girls on film walking into alleyways, frightened and being killed off. He wanted to twist that world and see the girl fight back to win the day. I can think of no better person to co-write a horror film that turns horror on its head like Cabin in the Woods does
There’s some scary moments in Cabin, though, it is by no means a straight-up horror. It’s a homage to horror films that uses comedy to great affect. If you liked Scream, you should try this. Whedonites should see it too. If you like your horror films, you’ll thank me when you see the fantastic elevator sequence towards the end of the film. It was my favourite film of 2012 and I’d love to know what you thought of it!
There’s some scary moments in Cabin, though, it is by no means a straight-up horror. It’s a homage to horror films that uses comedy to great affect. If you liked Scream, you should try this. Whedonites should see it too. If you like your horror films, you’ll thank me when you see the fantastic elevator sequence towards the end of the film. It was my favourite film of 2012 and I’d love to know what you thought of it!
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