If you’re looking for the perfect horror treat with a little comedic bite, then this 2011 flick might just be the perfect choice. Fans have described it as a horror masterpiece and a rare triumph that checks every box in the horror book. Starring Chris Hemsworth, The Cabin in the Woods might be your typical scary film, but it quickly turns into a subversive satire of clichés. With a whopping score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, it initially tricks audiences into believing that it is another recycled horror film. A bunch of college students travel to a remote cabin in the woods, only to discover they are being manipulated by a secret facility to ensure that their victims fall into a series of deadly traps.
Primarily inspired by slasher and survival films such as Evil Dead and Scream, the film established itself as a modern cult classic and has hundreds of glowing reviews online.
On IMDb, one person commented: “An absolute masterpiece homage to horror movies. Now, I went to see this movie thinking I had it all figured out. Despite my friends warning, I thought I had figured out the twist and would see it coming. Boy was I wrong. Within the first 5 minutes, what I thought was the twist was already revealed and the movie still played out with more twists, humor, and deaths than I could imagine.”
Another also said: “Cabin in the Woods is one of the most refreshing horror movies I have seen in a long time. The way they handle the idea of typical horror situations is fun and original. If they were to release a sequel, I would watch it because the idea can be explored further.”
A third also chimed in: “There are no words to express how amazing this movie was. What one would assume would be a typical horror cliché is actually treated to one of the most creative movies I’ve ever seen. Although most people could expect what the movie contained from the previews, as I did, they will still be blow away by this movie.”
A critic for the Sydney Morning Herald said: “It sounds like the oldest horror story in the book but from the first scene of The Cabin in the Woods it’s clear that the director, Drew Goddard, and his co-writer, Joss Whedon, are bent on turning the formula upside down.”
The Cabin in the Woods is available to stream on Amazon Prime.