The masterminds behind this movie — director Drew Goddard and his co-screenwriter Joss Whedon — worked together on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and the same mix of comedy, drama, horror and action that defined those shows so brilliantly is all over Cabin. With just a few minor alterations you could easily imagine Buffys Scooby Gang in this story. I cant think of a higher compliment for a horror comedy intent on giving its audience a ridiculously fun time.
And Cabin is really, really fun.
But heres my minor quibble: All the fun gets in the way of the scares. The deliberately flat characters never really popped for me, and I didnt particularly care if they lived or died. I also didnt find the killers at the cabin (I wont reveal who or what they are) very compelling or creatively executed. (Although, on balance, thats an extremely minor issue.)
The continually winking jokiness of the ever-shifting plot keeps Cabin humming right along without really building the intensity or suspense that marks the best horror filmmaking. The kind of intensity that will hopefully be seen on screen this year if film festival favorites The Loved Ones and Youre Next are actually released as scheduled.
Scream made fun of slasher movies, but it was also a brutal and vivid viewing experience. The opening sequence with Drew Barrymores Casey still wears me out when I watch it today, and I want Neve Campbells Sidney to fight her way to survival every time. Cabins Dana is a fine enough heroine — and Connolly is an unassuming beauty in the mold of Whedon women like Felicia Day, Alyson Hannigan or a less curvy Christina Hendricks (who guest starred in an episode of Firefly) — but in a movie that admirably aspires to become one of the all time greats, I wish she was at least a little more interesting.
Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford are also in the cast, in very important roles. In fact, theyre the first people we see. I dont want to say anything about their characters, but I will mention that theres a dumb, Eli Roth kind of direction they couldve gone with these guys, and thankfully no one involved wanted to do that.
On the other hand, theres a surprise celebrity cameo thats less surprising than it probably should be because of how the character is first revealed. And the potentially shocking death of another character is undermined by something weve already seen, and know is going to happen.
I dont think any of this will really matter to horror fans primed to embrace such a cool, creative and oddly delightful concoction. Goddard has done a pretty fantastic job for a first-time filmmaker, and there is a lot of memorable imagery here. Director of photography Peter Deming shot all the Scream sequels, Mulholland Dr. and Drag Me to Hell, and clearly became an invaluable part of the team.
And the films emphasis on comedy over relentless tension may actually help broaden the audience beyond the usual genre crowd. Like Evil Dead 2, Cabin will be a great movie for teens to watch at sleepovers. A fine choice for date night that wont leave anyone quaking in fear after the credits roll.
Its a wild ride. Dont be afraid to see where it takes you.
The Cabin in the Woods opens in theaters April 13
Tags: Fun
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