Make time for Cabin in the Woods...

It's been a while since I went to see Cabin in the Woods, so it's about time I share my thoughts on it with you.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my first experience of Cabin in the Woods was during an article on BBC's website.  The article spoke about too much information being given about the plot of a film during it's trailers.  Here's a link to the article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16972394

In the article it makes reference to viewers witnessing a force field barrier.  A bird flies into it, apparently giving away vital plot details.  I will agree only that it gives away the fact that a force field barrier features during the film.

The films opens with a sequence during which 2 men are walking through some kind of complex having a conversation about an upcoming project they're about to start work on.  It's very reminiscent of 80's america, workmen with their lunch boxes, the only thing that's missing are the hard hats.  What this sequence does is throw the cat among the pigeons from the word go.  You immediately know that something isn't right.

From there it continues along more familiar, formulaic lines.  To the point where after about 20 minutes I was sitting in fear that I was about to witness another teen slasher horror.  Then I realise that something very special is happening.  The witty Whedon dialogue, the familiar faces (for Whedon fans you'll notice faces from Doll House, Buffy and Angel), and the sublimely layered and drip fed storyline.  All of a sudden I'm in nerd/scifi/film lovers heaven.

The story is expertly brought together as well as being amazingly imaginative.  I know I've previously made reference to the gut-stabbing unicorn, but to go from innocent midterm holiday in the woods, to devil worshipping, human sacrificing, multi national corporation is something to behold.  With some sexy wolf kissing thrown in for good measure (it's just not right I tell you!)

Put in it's simplest terms.  Cabin in the Woods is a brilliant film for the casual viewer, and a tour de force for lovers of the genre.

Joss puts it very well in his own words during an interview with Total Film:

"On another level it's a serious critique of what we love and what we don't about horror movies. I love being scared. I love that mixture of thrill, of horror, that objectification/identification thing of wanting definitely for the people to be alright but at the same time hoping they’ll go somewhere dark and face something awful. The things that I don't like are kids acting like idiots, the devolution of the horror movie into torture porn and into a long series of sadistic comeuppances. Drew and I both felt that the pendulum had swung a little too far in that direction"

I loved the spectacle of The Avengers, and as a huge Marvel fan, this is by default my top film of 2012 (this is my Oscar winner).  Cabin in the Woods, this takes my Palme d'Or.

Pre Spoiler Alert!!

It has been brought to my attention that in my last post I didn't give any warning before talking about a plot detail from Super 8.  Granted it was a minor plot detail, and one that is glaringly obvious and in no way a twist.  Yet still, a plot detail none the less...without warning.

So I would like to take this opportunity to provide a pre spoiler alert.

Especially if you are a close friend of mine.  One who has an exceptionally good DVD collection that is completely without filler (seriously, not one in the whole lot that I wouldn't gladly watch).  Who also seems to take on average 5 months to see a film once it has been released, almost 12 in the case of Super 8.  It was released in August 2011 for crying out loud!

Yes Matt, this is for you.

My next blog post will go into detail about Cabin in the Woods.  I've held off for as long as possible, but it's just too good a film to not talk about.

Go and watch it now.

Just for the record (and to avoid any notion of exaggeration), it has been 291 days since the release of Super 8 on August 5th 2011.  It has then been 39 days since the release of Cabin in the Woods on 13th April 2012.  When citing Matt's tendency to procrastinate in seeing films, I used these as the examples which gave me the average of 165 days, or 5.42 months.  I rounded it down to 5.  Although in fairness I then hammed it up by saying it was almost 12 months since Super 8's release.

Things I thought I'd never see on the big screen...

I never thought I'd see a Unicorn, stab a man through the gut with it's horn and kill him.

That's right, a Unicorn like this.  Mythical creature, popular in the Middle Ages, symbol of purity and grace, supposed only able to be captured by a virgin.

Not only that, but I never, ever, thought I'd see it during the film Cabin in the Woods.  About 20 minutes in and you're scared that this highly anticipated film is going to be just another teen slasher flick.

Boy, would you be dead wrong.

I was deeply impressed by the creativity, ingenuity and humour of the film.  If you haven't seen it yet, go, now.  I mean, RIGHT NOW.

I recently read an article on the BBC website, saying that the trailers for the film gave too much away; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16972394 and whilst I agree it gives away a little, there is no way it 'spoils' the film.

I really enjoyed the film, and will talk about it more at length later.  But for now I don't want to give away any more details until you've had plenty of time to see it.

Until then, enjoy.