The Cabin in the Woods (2011, Drew Goddard)

The film starts with two technicians having discussion around a coffee machine. When a girl interrupted their conversation and talked about something happening in Sweden or Japan, one wonders if this is the right film until the title The Cabin in the Woods appears. 

Five students Curt, Dana, Jules, Marty and Holden go to a remote area and spend the week end in a cabin that Curt’s cousin bought (Does Curt really have a cousin?). After they’re gone, a special-agent looking guy reports to the organization the technicians above work for. They can start the ‘mission’ now. So far, it is not clear yet. Meanwhile, strange things are happening like a strange man holding a gas station, a bird crushed by a laser barrier, a painting of a sacrifice, etc. But the most important part is every inch of the cabin being filmed leaving the spectator with a thought that this is actually a reality TV show except that our heroes are unaware of what awaits them. So what (or who) is behind this?

The unnamed secret organization controls everything around the cabin: the temperature, the weather, even the participants’ behaviours. Manipulated, the victims unknowingly choose the way they die and this season, the killers would be the Buckners, the zombie redneck torture family. 

Sitterson (Richard Jenkins) takes your bet

Things are getting clearer as some monsters are let loose and the victims discover the dark secret of the cabin. In the end, we get the whole story from the Director (Sigourney Weaver): every country in the world sets up its own ritual to sacrifice young people or children in order to appease the gods from the underground. As for the States, five young people are chosen every year and have to fit specific archetypes: a Whore, an Athlete, a Scholar, a Fool and a Virgin. 

I went to see the film with very low expectation as if I was to see another Scream/Urban Legend movie (and Chris Hemsworth from Thor and the Avengers) but it turned to be something different. The Cabin in the Woods is a mix of gory modern flicks (Saw, Hostel) and classic horror films featuring hideous creatures like zombies, vampires and werewolves among others... Therefore, I’ll simply take it as a tribute to the horror genre in general with usual ideas (the importance of control and the struggle for survival) represented in a rather original way. Despite the absence of an ending twist, this was how I felt when leaving the theater: surprised.  

Memorable quotes

Truman (when the Buckners came out): They’re like something from nightmares. 

Lin: No, they’re something nightmares are from.