The Cabin In The Woods: Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

“The Cabin In The Woods Movie Review (Spoiler Free) – Subverting the horror movie tropes in the world we live in.”

At one point or another, you’ve probably felt trapped in a world were the rules, conceptions and value systems were imposed on you. And no matter how hard you tried to break the social norm, stereotype or a commonly held belief, you feel there is some overwhelming force conspiring against you. Or maybe after a heated debate you realized all your arguments were from something you watched on TV or heard from someone else. As much as we might feel like a puppet on a string at times, we ultimately do have a choice. Or maybe we’re just missing the point? These are some of the questions posed in the smart, funny, horror movie ‘The Cabin In The Woods’, directed and cowritten by Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, Lost).

You think you know the story. Five friends go on a weekend getaway of partying, mischief and possibly sex. Dana is not quite a virgin (Kristen Connolly), Curt is an alpha-male athlete (Chris Hemsworth), Jules is the libidinous blonde (Anna Hutchison), Marty is the stoner fool (Fran Kranz), and Holden is the scholar (Jesse Williams). Well not really. These young characters are quickly established as complex, morally conscious, multi-faceted individuals. However, as the story unfolds, characters devolve into caricatures we know from typical horror movies, igniting our inherent desire to see their demise. Archetypes are a shorthand way to understand and relate to people. It can also serve to marginalize people making it easier to objectify, dehumanize and even inflict pain on them.

‘The Cabin In The Woods’ holds a mirror up to the world allowing us to see it for what it really is and who we are. We can gaze into the mirror, make funny faces, cover it up, run away from it, gaze through the mirror, or if you’re courageous, “break on through to the other side”. Goddard’s directorial debut is a highly entertaining, comedic-thriller bloodfest; poking fun at horror movie clichés and “embracing the tropes they are trying to subvert”. Although, it’s not a very scary movie, what might keep you up late at night is why we want to oppress and hurt young people.

To say anything more about the story will spoil the fun. Throw away your expectations (and preconceptions) and enjoy the ride. Watch the interview below with co-star Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Star Trek).

Marvel’s Avengers Assemble Featurette

Check out an exclusive interview with Director Joss Whedon on Assembling ‘The Avengers’ at New York Times website.  Joss Whedon talks about how he backed out of directing Iron Man, how he won the Avengers Movie with a single email pitch to Marvel Studios, and his experience on directing stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson. The following is a brief excerpt from the interview:

Question:  And you can live with having all the plot points of the previous Marvel movies dictated to you when you walk in the door?

Answer:  Yeah, sure. And where all the other sequels are going to go. There was talk about, should we have this character? I’m like, you need to save that character for that other sequel. You can’t just throw that moment away. One of the biggest struggles for me was the end of “Iron Man 2″: “I’m in a semi-stable relationship.” “We approve of Iron Man but not Tony Stark.” They really made my job hard, in that respect. But you get all these pieces and it’s a puzzle. But it’s a puzzle that comes together. It’s not just a bunch of broken stuff — there is a way that it’s supposed to fit. And when it does, you find you’re being given as many gifts as you are problems.

Read my preview of Marvel’s Avengers Movie

Watch Marvel’s Avengers Movie Trailer in HD

Avengers Assemble New Movie Trailer HD

“We’re not a team. We’re a timebomb”. Just when you thought you couldn’t get more excited about Marvel’s Avengers movie, the new trailer explodes with intense action, gorgeous special effects and great one-liners. Thor Vs Captain America? Love the fact that all these giant egos are not gonna get along at first. Check out the new trailer below! (UK release date is April 26. US and Canada release day is May 4). What’s that huge flying thing at the very end?

The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer 2012

Too soon for a Spider-Man reboot? Well, it’s coming to theatres this July! The Amazing Spider-Man stars Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as Peter Parker, Emma Stone (Easy A, Zombieland) as Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans as Dr. Connors (Hannibal Rising). The first movie in the new franchise will have Peter Parker investigate his parent’s disappearance and help create a serum for Dr. Connor to regenerate his arm. Let me know if the trailer gets your spidey senses tingling in the comments below.