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A horror movie is rarely something that receives widespread
critical acclaim, often these films fall heavily into genre stereotypes and
often become rediscovered years later after being relegated to multiple movie
DVD packs and what not, this is particularly the case with films like Carnival
of Souls and Island of Lost Souls.
However, what then happens if a horror film comes along and messes with
the entire concept and fabrication of a genre.
Well, the recent release of Cabin in the Woods answers this question for
us…it results in widespread critical acclaim and what has proved most certainly
to be the most fun and funniest movie going experience since seeing Inglorious
Basterds. This pastiche of various
horror films is quickly realized as you can easily pick out the influences of
Haneke, Hitchcock and Miike with little trouble, yet it is the overarching
commentary on creating a false reality for individuals to exist in, only
furthered by the fact that their world is anything but welcoming. Ultimately, Cabin in the Woods lies near
perfectly between being an absolutely dread inducing movie and something that
is hilariously scathing in its social criticism. I am quite certain that when I compile my
favorite movies of this year come December that this is likely to make the
cut…for a Hollywood horror film it is something quite spectacular.
Cabin in the Woods focuses on a group of what appear to be
scientists engineering a horrorscape for a set of unsuspecting teens travelling
to none other than a cabin in some woods.
The group includes all the necessary characters for the film, a brutish
jock who demands respect by his actions alone, and his promiscuous girlfriend
who spends most of her time scantily clad.
There is also the pothead whose humor is his sole saving grace and is
clearly kept around to mock. Finally the
group also includes the intellectual guy who continually questions the validity
of terrible actions, as well as the vestal virgin who agrees with the
intellectual on how terrible the bad decisions end up being. This group is placed under the watchful eyes
of the various scientists through cameras microphones and what not and
continually place pheromones and other chemicals in the air to affect the
decisions of the teens. The scientist,
having a bit of fun, even agree to bet on which form of monster the teens will
choose, which is decided once they enter a den full of various items ranging
from film reels to music boxes. It is in
the reading or commenting on one of these items that a nightmare is brought to
life and begins attacking the teens. The
teens are in a losing situation, because the scientist have the power to
control every aspect of the forest, including blocking exits and causing the
group to unwillingly split up. All of
this is done, as we come to realize, to satiate some ancient demons living in
the depths of the earth, who will destroy the world should their bloodlust not
be met. However, the stoner catches on
and realizes it is a puppet show of sorts, after the death of a handful of
other characters, and begins to fight against the machine. This results in their entering into the
science facility and causing the other nightmarish monsters to be realeased
wreaking havoc on the entire facility.
Viewers are provided with a literal pandemonium of creatures ranging
from rather silly giant insects to very disturbing faceless murderers. Ultimately, the releasing of the creatures
causes the sacrifice to fail and the ancient demons rebel. We are left to assume that everything is
ended and are not quite sure what to make of the film as viewers. I know this description seems like a lot,
however, it is a profoundly complex movie that masks itself as something fun
and simple.
Something like Cabin in the Woods can be appreciated solely
for its post-modern approach to the genre in that it is more of a hodgepodge of
a directors favorite films than anything else, however, to simply call it this
would be to seriously undervalue it as a social statement. While the terms in the film are grandiose, as
is clearly the case with the notion of ancient demons, they nonetheless help to
analyze our societies obsession with reality television in its various
forms. It is important to note that the
first year of Real World was severely underviewed because people were
disinterested in seeing daily life simply existing. However, once the show began depicting fights
and confrontations more frequently it became one of MTV’s most viewed programs
for well over a decade. We as viewers desire
visceral fights and violence and it is better liked if we are under that false
belief that it is real. As most people
know though, reality television is incredibly staged and often ruins the lives
of those involved with such programs.
Cabin in the Woods, is blatantly a criticism of such a notion and asks
viewers to reflect on their own involvement in such activities. If one reads the film in such a way it
becomes something much larger than a cool horror movie, it is instead a mirror
to society, one that says our near bloodlust could very well be the death of us
all. It is only a matter of time before
our constant desire to see demons destroy others will result in our own
pandemonium, one that could have very fatal results. However, Cabin in the Woods could just be a
genius bit of comedic horror, but were would the fun be in that?
Watch Cabin in the Woods while it is still in theaters and
bring as many friends as possible, it is mandatory that you see it in a movie
theater and has a great cameo at the end…trust me.
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