STORY STUDY (HORROR MONTH) - MEDIUM: FILM - “The Cabin in the Woods”
We can’t go through Horror Month without talking about at least one movie that uses one of the classic horror story tropes.
Any talk about stories involving a cabin in the woods, people might think about the first two Evil Dead films, and its 2013 remake.
For today, we’ll be talking the appropriately titled The Cabin in the Woods.
Directed by Drew Goddard, and written by Goddard and Joss Whedon, the story is about five college students who go to a cabin in the woods where, of course, it’s off the grid.
Later that night, they are suddenly attacked by a small family of zombies.
At the same time, they are being watched by a pair of men in suits somewhere in a facility.
It’s pretty clear that something is going on.
That’s all I dare to speak about it.
What I can say that the film can be seen as a metaphor for horror films (emphasis on “meta.”) It pokes fun at horror movie tropes and clichés while being able to tell its own unique story.
I don’t usually seek out horror movies after seeing the trailer. Every time I go see an R-rated movie or an ill-timed PG-13 movie, I’ll get a horror movie trailer. Every time a one of these trailers show up, there’s always a jump scare, and being in a dark movie theater does not help in trying to remain calm.
The Cabin in the Woods was a rare example of a horror movie that I wanted to go see. The trailer used scares as well as showing a mystery element that I really wanted to find out the what and why.
I don’t want to say any more, so get out there and watch it, and for the love of God, PLEASE TELL someone where you are going before going there.
