The Cabin in the Woods

Of course this formula scheme is soooooo tired and the ripoff of the greatest classics so obvious that it won’t be missed even by an average cinephile viewer. Still, there remains the fact that it's pretty nicely shot and that the million times warmed-over "high school" stereotype, as far as the characters are concerned, keeps you entertained with its predictability and infinite stupidity (the jock, the blonde b*tch, the geek/stoner, the naive virgin...). As much as I hate to admit it, I give a big plus for the elevator scene, because there was some semblance of originality there and it was filmed very impressively indeed. All in all, quite a delectable one-time treat. Even so, history will not be rewritten and Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead can rest in peace (in my opinion, at least until death). (02/11/2013)

I've never seen a movie like this and I probably never will again. This is a horror where everything that has always been perceived as “classical horror elements” is turned upside down and you struggle to keep up. Enough said! This is just one of those movies where it’d be a shame to say anything more. Just watch it and then let me know how shocked you were so that more people decide to watch it. I think that should do it. (15/07/2014)

WOW! I can’t think of a better way to describe this film. If you're expecting a classic mindless bloodfest that becomes routine, stupid and predictable after the first kill, you're completely wrong. Cabin in the Woods is a true genre blast and probably the most modern and stylish horror film in years. Take this in any way you want, because the biggest mistake would be if I were to give you any significant approximation of what happens on screen. Screw the reviews and the synopsis, just go ahead and enjoy it. This is worthy horror! 85% (21/08/2012)

When I watched the movie "Cabin in the Mountains" and heard about the excitement that struck among horror fans, I had a feeling that I missed something. One hundred percent ratings are absolutely absurd. However, it is said that the film is the best thing that was made in the genre in 2012. Furthermore, it is emphasized that it is the most original. It is unbelievable contradiction when we realize that basically everything in the movie is very unoriginal. You will have the feeling that you are watching "Evil Dead" for a while, then "Cube", and I wouldn't be surprised if you had similar feelings as when watching "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil". There is really very little originality here. The most original thing is the fact that the unoriginal is creatively combined into one whole which surprisingly works. On one hand, it is new and unconventional, despite being unoriginal. "Cabin in the Mountains" draws inspiration from the long history of horror and uses it to present us with essentially just an ordinary horror comedy. It is not a light comedy that does not have dull moments, it does. But the story is so interesting that it can captivate you. The originality of execution and connection of seemingly unrelated elements works. The debunking of horror myths also works. It doesn't matter then, that the film turns into a typical B-movie at the end, which has exhausted all ideas and is just trying to finish it off. It is good. Against my will, I have to say that it is a good film. Unoriginal, newly conceived, good. I didn't laugh like crazy, but some jokes were really good here. Good lines and especially references to old beautiful movies. Nevertheless, I think it's sad where horror is heading. Will we praise unoriginal films just because it is simply not possible to create anything that would blow our minds anymore? Have all the original ideas really run out and all that's left is to recycle and try to look at it differently? Remakes, plundering of classics, parodying them, which also happens in this case, and of course, the effort to twist it a little. Long live the strange world where the best thing is what has already been made and everything new is only criticized, often rightly so. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/10/prach-uspesna-pokracovani-animaku.html (01/03/2013)

The Cabin in the Woods is a truly original film, no doubt about it, as you would hardly find a similar theme within the horror genre, which is a big plus on the one hand. However, on the other hand, this originality results in a story that is, to some extent, completely muddled and out of control, in a bad way, because a little plot disobedience is welcome from time to time. The film doesn't lack for build-up, tension and more than one surprising twist, but there are also a lot of wtf-moments where you get quite lost at times. In short, a film that is lifted out of grey mediocrity by its premise, only to have its madness subsequently trip it up. (10/02/2016)