Cabin in the Woods - SPOILER THREAD

[FlapJack]

In the end I definitely liked the movie as a WTD kind of comedy. My only disappointment was going in I expected a stronger horror element and thinking there was going to be more of mindfuck element to the plot. Definitely viewed this as more dark comedy horror homage.

When my friend and I got home and tried to explain the details of the movie to our wives, we definitely got the "WTF - have you guys just being getting high for the past two hours" expression. Definitely a lot of great moments from the movie and look forward to re-watching with a different mindset.

[FlapJack]

I love when the good-girl virgin was getting mauled by the big swamp creature thing on the docks, the whole sequence was playing out on the control room screens with all the facility workers partying, drinking champagne tequila, etc (BEFORE THE RED PHONE RINGS, OF COURSE!)

Probably my favorite scene ...

[mkuborn]

It felt like a 95 minute inside joke that 3/4ths of the audience didnt realize was a joke. There we plenty of hilarious moments but it just felt like a hopped up/smarter serious version of Scream or Scarey Movie. Making a horror parody isnt anything new and sure the unicorn, bike jump, merman, coffecup/bong were all great payoffs but overall I was not enamored. I am slightly annoyed the trailers lead you to believe it is a serious horror film when in reality it is a giant parody.

My question is this, did most people who are not cinephiles know it was a tongue in cheek parody?

[RelaxingDragon]

I never quite got the concept of blaming a movie for not delivering what the advertising promised. I understand why it happens, but it still doesn't make the most sense. It's not the movie's fault, after all. They guys who make it aren't in charge of advertising (particularly on a film that's been shelved for two years). Likewise, I've been seeing a lot of backlash lately against this not being *enough* of a horror film.

Horror/comedies always walk a fine line, with it taking very little effort to go one way or the other. And in this case I think it did still lead in with plenty of horror elements (all the Upstairs deaths are played straight, and the whole thing ends on about as horrific an ending as you can get, in a big picture sense), it just broke it up with plenty of laughs. Not really straight-comedy laughs, just laughs. This is more Scream in that sense than it is, say, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.

And I definitely don't feel this is a Parody (nor is Scream, come to think of it). Parody implies that they're making fun of the concept in a more... mocking sense. This is more a loving homage or satire, more Shaun of the Dead and less Scary Movie.

[FlapJack]

My question is this, did most people who are not cinephiles know it was a tongue in cheek parody?

I clearly did not know ... everyone said go into this one cold ... which I tried to, outside of commercials and posters and ZOMG word of mouth. Once the title card flashes, you get the idea. I figured there was going to be humor, but I didn't expect for it to be so very winking that it desensitized all of the horror elements. Everything became pretty laughable - and it was entertaining from that sense. Definitely enjoyed the setup more than the payoff though.

[RiotAct]

My question is this, did most people who are not cinephiles know it was a tongue in cheek parody?

I kind of figured that out during the scene where they're talking to the overly-dramatic gas station attendant and he asks "Am I on speakerphone???" as the workers are cracking up.

[RelaxingDragon]

A good article went up today over on Badass Digest that explored the horror/not-horror notion (hint: it's a horror movie. It's alright to accept that): http://badassdigest.com/2012/04/24/coll ... is-horror/

[machination]

I was initially disappointed after viewing it, but it's because I was expecting horror (I know, I know, I should've known better since I watch everything Whedon has a hand in, but I really didn't know this time). The trailer is misleading. Some people may enjoy the dumb trailer, but I think the trailer is extremely important to how a person initially perceives a film.

Anyway, once the movie finished, I re-adjusted my thoughts. The more I think about the details in the film, the more I realize it's extremely clever. Part of the issue is that I only watch horror films once in a while. I don't have a problem with them, but I also don't actively seek out these films to watch. And I'm surprised so many people like CITW with all the classic Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard elements in it. I mean, I love all that stuff, but they have a hard time getting the green light in the industry. I think I've seen every one of the concepts present in CITW in their (Whedon and Goddard's) TV writing. This is a good thing, for sure.

The unicorn stabbing was awesome. The Japanese kids scene was hilarious. Title card was great. Even if you're not a horror fan, it's worth watching for the humour.

Really awesome to see Whedon alums in the cast too.

[Darkknight37]

I was thinking about the movie today and was thinking about the scene where they had the pool going. They had all the different death by choices, but I loved how it had "witches", then "sexy witches" underneath it

[mycrospazm]

I saw this at the drive-in, and while fun and somewhat clever, it is nothing that I'm going to rush out and buy. I will Redbox the hell out of it, though. I can't wait to actually see what's going on in some of the darker scenes, which is essentially the entire film.

[rubberneck]

Possible scenarios....

[mike123230]

Thank you for that.

[FlapJack]

What was the analogy they used for the difference between the Zombies and and Zombie Redneck Torture Family scenarios?

[Darkknight37]

Possible scenarios....

Awesome! And there's the sexy witches!

[bathroommonkey]

What was the analogy they used for the difference between the Zombies and and Zombie Redneck Torture Family scenarios?

Wiry Girl: That's not fair! I had zombies too!
Sitterson: Yes, you had "Zombies." But this is "Zombie Redneck Torture Family." Entirely separate thing. It's like the difference between an elephant and an elephant seal.