Cabin in the Woods

(2011) ***

I think this film has something to offer as a bridge from 2000s horror to 2010s horror. Though, as Landshark puts it, "For those still reluctant to get on the Wheedon-nerdfest bandwagon, you may want to avoid this one, as it's downright infectious."

Redheads + Whedon are also a likely formula.

I won't swan-dive into a pool of Whedon Haterade, because from a linguistic POV he hath been developing something quite clever in his time writing movies and television series. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the film version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (hated the TV series), and watched Serenity three times (couldn't get into Firefly, the series upon which it was based), my verdict remains that I don't think the genre of horror is ready for Joss Whedon, and I don't think Joss Whedon is ready to tackle horror. And for me personally, a small dose of Vitamin W does me well for a few years.

One trend in Whedon's work to celebrate are strong women, which to me signifies a turning point in horror even if I admittedly am new to watching horror movies. I saw it in Splinter and see many helpless female characters in 70's and 80's horror movies, which irritates me. My applause goes to Mr. Whedon for working towards a new face of horror that levels the playing field and creates more possibilities for plot twists.

Though there's not much of a twist here, just an innocent game of Truth or Dare.

Something of a caveat for me, though, in Whedon's creations is the dialogue. I don't mind the liberty he takes upon changing words around (as outlined in the book Slayer Slang, described on this Wikipedia page) but the context of which these words are changed takes me out of the movie experience entirely.

To come to an awkward/difficult conclusion of Cabin is like answering the question of someone's favorite color under pressure: I might say my favorite color is pink but the color for this season is obviously burnt orange. I understand it will be the popular vote and it's what people like, etc. It is a part of a growing trend that I've seen with dialogue and character development in movies and TV shows. AND I concede that I am powerless against its force at taking over what we know it as entertainment.

The most entertaining part of this shot is "Angry Molesting Tree" in the lower left-hand corner.

This review might be sounding kind of bleak, but I'm just trying to sound neutral to relay my reaction of watching Cabin in the Woods and not sound like I know everything about Whedon or horror movies. It was engaging but not noteworthy, it was cute but not particularly clever since I don't think it is covering any new Whedon-territory from a writer's standpoint (or penpoint?). I'd give it a second viewing at a party where there were a couple of cool board games to play while it ran in the background.