By Carmen Herrera |Asst. A&E Editor|
You may think you know what “The Cabin in the Woods” is all about, but think again.
At first glance, the film seems like your typical torture porn flick with some “horror” elements. It’s about a group of wild, sexy college students who go out to vacation in a place in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception and, whaddya know, ignore the obligatory side-of-the-road creepy guy who serves as a prelude to the messed up stuff that’s to ensue.
The characters include, not surprisingly, a handsome jock, a blonde bimbo, a stoned hippie, and an intelligent but cautious girl who serves as the group’s voice of reason.
The film begins with the group on the road to a cabin for a weekend getaway. As usual, they encounter a deserted gas station until a stranger mysteriously pops up, attempting to scare the audience. Despite a warning by the lunatic stranger, the group laughs it off and heads towards the cabin ready to party.
The way the story unravels up until this point seems familiar and formulaic, but then it appears this was a deliberate move on behalf of director Drew Goddard, as the plot steers in a progressively different direction.
The group of teens are under surveillance and every single one of their moves is being watched by a group of technicians running a special operation.
Once the real villains begin to emerge and all hell is unleashed, the plot becomes more exciting and pieces of the puzzle begin to come together.
What makes this film stand out above your average predictable scary film is the unusual twists and merging of different subplots.
A glance at the film’s trailer would have audiences assume a group of loners or cannibals await the group in the woods, but the viewers will be surprised about what really is causing all the mayhem.
As the film continues it takes on a whole new genre that leaves you wondering if this was the same movie you originally bought tickets for.
It comes as no surprise to movie goers that this film is written and structured this way when discovering that it is co-written and directed by Goddard, who wrote the 2009 sci-fi film “Cloverfield”, and is produced by Joss Whedon, whose works include “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly.”
Though Chris Hemsworth and Richard Jenkins are two household names that stand out in a cast of relatively unknown actors, it’s actor Fran Kranz who emerges as the one to watch out for. His hilarious druggie character is nothing new, but his overall screen presence is what really makes him stand out.
In general, the film was average, though it was a breath of fresh air compared to the standard splatter flick that we’re used to seeing. The mystery behind the story is what really makes this movie unique and not a complete waste of time for the viewer who expects to see the same recycled material.
Fans of horror should see this despite it not really being too frightening. What it lacks in scare tactics, it makes up for in a seriously interesting storyline.
Photos Courtesy of The Cabin in the Woods Official Website.
