Tag: Cabin in the Woods

CABIN IN THE WOODS – The Blu-Review

When five friends take a trip to a secluded cabin, they expected a weekend of fun. What they didn’t bargain for was a trip where they fight for their lives.

One of the best horror films I have seen in a long time, CABIN IN THE WOODS stars Kristen Connolly (THE HAPPENING), Chris Hemsworth (THE AVENGERS), Anna Hutchison (TV’s “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior”), Fran Kranz (THE VILLAGE), Jesse Williams (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Richard Jenkins (THE VISITOR) and Bradley Whitford (TV’s “The West Wing”) as they set off on their adventure into the unknown.

Check out the trailer here:

A rambunctious group of five college friends steal away for a weekend of debauchery in an isolated country cabin, only to be attacked by horrific supernatural creatures in a night of endless terror and bloodshed. Sound familiar? Just wait. As the teens begin to exhibit standard horror movie behavior, a group of technicians in a control room are scrutinizing, and sometimes even controlling, every move the terrified kids make. With their efforts continually thwarted by the all-powerful eye in the sky, do they have any chance of escape?

At first glance, it starts off like any other horror film, including a creepy stranger they encounter on their way to the cabin that warns them of the dangers ahead. Typical horror stuff, right? Wrong! The film then takes some crazy twists and turns, bringing it to a level beyond the normal hack/slash film. It’s not since SCREAM that I have seen a movie try to outline the rules of horror (In a respectable way), and this film not only does that, but goes above and beyond. The film is innovative, smart, and includes some of that Joss Whedon humor that we all know and love. He and Drew Goddard knocked this one out of the park. It’s visually stunning, clever, and relies on wit rather than relying on cheap horror scares to make you jump a few times.

THE BLU-RAY

At first glance, I was kind of mad at the blu-ray for its hologram. Holy spoiler alert! The beauty of this film is that the audience doesn’t really know what’s unfolding until the right moment. The film is full of surprises. The sad part is that they put the biggest surprise on the cover! If I bought this, and had yet to see the movie, I would be furious! They may want to rethink that.

AUDIO: The English 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio is incredible. Once the creepy music creeps in, you will be in horror movie heaven! The sound is crisp, clear, and brings out the best in every blood curdling scream.

VIDEO: The 1080p High Definition 16×9 Widescreen transfer (2.40:1) is stunning. The film is made to have some rather murky/dark scenes, but it still is clean and precise.

BONUS FEATURES:
  • Audio commentary with Writer/Director Drew Goddard and Writer/Producer Joss Whedon : This not only gives great information, but it’s also rather funny and witty. They go into production difficulties, working with the cast, and even their thoughts on the final film. One of the better commentaries I’ve listened to in a while.
  • “We Are Not Who We Are: Making The Cabin in the Woods” featurette : This mini documentary is filled with great behind the scenes footage and Joss Whedon goodness, this covers everything from where they wrote the script to production details.
  • “The Secret Secret Stash” feature: This section includes :
    • “Marty’s Stash”: A look at Marty’s smoking tools as shown by actor Fran Kranz
    • “My name is Joss and I’ll be your guide” : A guided tour of the interior and exterior of the cabin set by Joss Whedon.
  • Wonder-Con Q&A with Joss and Drew : A fun Q&A session after a screening of the film with the audience.
  • “An Army of Nightmares: Make-Up & Animatronic Effects” featurette : If you have not watched the movie yet, do not watch this. A close look at the effects needed for the film. It’s really cool, especially if you are into special effects. Still, there are spoilers in this section.
  • “Primal Terror: Visual Effects” featurette : Again, if you have not watched the movie yet, you might not want to watch this. It has spoilers as well, and is another glance into the visual effects world.
  • “It’s Not What You Think: The Cabin in the Woods” Bonus View Mode (Blu-ray Exclusive) : Although the viewing screen is extremely small, it’s still interesting to hear the cast and crew talk about the film. Still, they could have made the screen a bit bigger so we can make out what is going on in the box.
  • Theatrical Trailer

Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon haven’t really ventured into full-blown horror until now. Sure, they have tv shows with horror tones, but nothing like this. Growing up as fans of horror, they have created a movie that goes above and beyond what is being produced in modern horror today. CABIN IN THE WOODS is fun, different, and exciting. Aside from the spoiler hologram box art and the small viewing window in the Bonus View Mode, I am very pleased with the Blu-Ray.

OVERALL RATING: 4.5

CABIN IN THE WOODS is out on Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy), DVD (plus Digital Copy) and On Demand today From Lionsgate

Tribeca 2012 Review: RESOLUTION

Whichever distributor picks this film up is going to have a hell of a time figuring out the proper way to market this beast. RESOLUTION tells the story of Michael (Peter Cilella) who attempts to get his former best friend Chris (Vinny Curran) to leave the burnt out shell of a house he is living in and go to rehab. When Chris refuses, Michael handcuffs him to the wall and plans to wait the seven days it will take for the drugs to clear out of his system. During the course of the week, some strange characters show up including drug dealers, Indian reservation security, and members of a local cult. With Chris suffering from extreme withdrawal, Michael cares for him while piecing together various forms of media he finds scattered throughout the surrounding woods that seem to be hinting at a much bigger story. Oh, and it’s a comedy, albeit a fairly dark one. As I said, not an easy sell but I truly hope someone rises to the challenge because this film deserves to be seen.

Similar to THE CABIN IN THE WOODS in that it is a film that works best with the audience knowing as little as possible going in, I will not reveal anything else about the plot. If you are at least intrigued by the film, I suggest you don’t even watch whatever trailers they eventually release for fear of spoilers. I genuinely had no idea where the film was headed next and that is a rare feat nowadays. Full of clever twists and witty dialogue, the film culminates in what may be the most spectacularly meta ending in cinema history. I know the meta term scares some people but it really works in this film.

The script is sharply written by Justin Benson, who also did an equally fantastic job co-directing with Aaron Moorhead. Visually intriguing, utilizing interesting camera and editing techniques, the film has a great look and feel that really enhances the story it is trying to tell. Peter Cilella and Vinny Curran get the bulk of the screen time, which is great since they have excellent chemistry and are totally engaging to watch. These are really breakout performances for each of them and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future. I am also looking forward to future collaborations between Moorhead and Benson because these guys seriously know what they are doing.

Not that this means anything but of the 18 features I saw, RESOLUTION is my favorite film of the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.

http://vimeo.com/28909207

Jerry Cavallaro – @GetStuck – JerryCavallaro.com

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS New Images

Get one step closer to discovering the secret of THE CABIN IN THE WOODS by taking a look at these new images from the film. If you think you know this story, think again. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS opens in theaters everywhere Friday April 13th, 2012.

Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a mind blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.

Produced by Whedon and directed by Goddard from a script by both, the film stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. Lionsgate presents a Mutant Enemy production.

#DiscoverTheSecret on April 13!

Official Website:  http://www.discoverthecabininthewoods.com/
Official Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/TheCabininTheWoods
Official Twitter Page:  https://twitter.com/#!/lionsgatehorror  #DiscoverTheSecret

 

CABIN IN THE WOODS Trailer & Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard Live Chat From SXSW

Tune in this Sunday, March 11th at 12:00pm CST for a discussion with Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard about their upcoming film, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, with HitFix’s Drew McWeeny live from SXSW.

You think you know the story? Now is your chance to find out more by submitting your questions for Joss and Drew on the official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheCabininTheWoods

Be sure to watch the live chat on HitFix, EPIX or Facebook to see if your question is picked.

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS opens in theaters everywhere Friday April 13th, 2012.

Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen.

If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a mind blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.

Produced by Whedon and directed by Goddard from a script by both, the film stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford.

Lionsgate presents a Mutant Enemy production.

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, the upcoming “horror movie to end all horror movies” that will turn the genre on its head, will be in theaters everywhere April 13th, 2012.

Official Website: http://www.discoverthecabininthewoods.com/
Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheCabininTheWoods
Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/#!/lionsgatehorror #DiscoverTheSecret

Joss Whedon’s CABIN IN THE WOODS Pushed Back a Year

cabin in the woods

If you were waiting with baited breath for Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard’s CABIN IN THE WOODS, you’re just going to have to wait a little bit longer. It appears the almighty dollar has won out. Shock Till You Drop is reporting that the horror film, initially set to scare its way into theaters on February 5th, 2010, has been pushed back nearly a full year to January 14th, 2011. The reason? According to MGM reps, early buzz on the film has been phenomenal, and the studio wants the time to convert the film over to 3-D.

Now, it is no surprise how I feel about films that are transferred over to 3-D after the fact. It’s one thing to have a film like AVATAR that was born and bred to play via the latest, state-of-the-art format of 3-D. It’s another thing entirely to take an already established film and filter it through the 3-D gimmickry that is seeming to inundate the filmmaking universe. This news comes just a little over a week after the news broke that the Weinsteins were halting production on HALLOWEEN 3 to give director Patrick Lussier ample time to work the 3-D into that film.

Of course, some are already speculating that MGM, who is having noted financial difficulties as of late, could just want to push CABIN IN THE WOODS back to their 2011 fiscal year.  Either way you slice it, the film is coming out a year after its anticipated release date. And, whether we like it or not, it will, evidently, be presented in 3-D.

5 More Inhabit ‘Cabin in the Woods’

cabininwoodsgeneric

Already building a nice little niche for biz news, I predict Joss Whedon’s new horror genre entry will prove to be quite the buzz as we get closer to a finished product. The cast has already landed Richard Jenkins (‘The Visitor’) and Bradley Whitford (‘Bottle Shock’) and now five more have moved into ‘Cabin in the Woods’.

Kristen Connolly (‘Revolutionary Road’), Chris Hemsworth (‘Star Trek’), Anna Hutchison (‘Underbelly’), Fran Kranz (‘The Village’) and Jesse Williams (‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2’) have all signed on to the project from Whedon and Goddard.

“Finding this ensemble has been very hard and very rewarding,” Whedon said. “Each of the ‘kids’ is unique, fascinating and talented, and like true friends, the group is more than the sum of its parts. These are people you care about, able to go toe to toe with the amazing actors we’ve corralled thus far, and not unpretty in the bargain. I can’t wait to harm them.” — HR

‘Cabin in the Woods’ is currently in production, but the release date has been pushed back from October 23 to February 5. Fine with me. I’d rather see it done right, than fast. However, the re-scheduling most likely is related more to avoiding a box office run-off with ‘Saw VI’.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

Richard Jenkins movies into Whedon’s ‘Cabin in the Woods’

For those not already in the know, ‘Cabin in the Woods’ is a new horror film in the works from Joss Whedon. The movie, which has been kept extremely secret, has Whedon co-writing and producing the flick with Drew Goddard writing (Cloverfield) and directing. All we really know at this point is that ‘Cabin in the Woods’ we be a new take on the classic “cabin in the woods” type of horror genre flick, hence the tongue-in-cheek title.

This is the newest bit of news on the project, with the announcement that Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) has been confirmed and Bradley Whitford (Bottle Shock) is in final negotiations. Jenkins is a fabulous, yet under-rated actor. To make my point, I direct you to ‘The Visitor’ which is currently making a [very] long-shot run for Best Picture, but the Oscar race to watch is Jenkins’ slightly more conceivable push as the underdog for Best Supporting Actor. [of course, realistically we all know it’s going to Ledger] ‘Cabin in the Woods’ is set to hit theaters on February 5, 2010.

Whedon said the casting signals what kind of movie they are hoping to make. “They’re the first proof that though ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ is a classic horror film, it isn’t one you’ve seen before.”

While the studio and filmmakers were loath to provide character details, it is understood that Jenkins and Whitford will play white-collar co-workers with a mysterious connection to the cabin.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

Joss Whedon reteams with Drew Goddard for ‘Woods’

If you’ve been wondering what Joss Whedon has been up to lately … here’s the answer (or, at least the newest bit of Whedon news):

A new thriller, written by Joss Whedon (‘Firefly’) and Drew Goddard (‘Cloverfield’), titled ‘A Cabin in the Woods’ is being greenlit by MGM, with Goddard making his directorial debut and Whedon also producing. The two first matched wits on the popular TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ followed by their joining forces on the ‘Angel’ series. Drew Goddard has also worked on the ‘Alias’ TV series.

While speaking on the Dark Horse Comics panel at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con, Whedon announced the news and said stated thus: “The horror movie to end all horror movies… literally” in describing the project. What that means exactly, who knows? One thing’s for sure, with Whedon involved it ought to be interesting.

No cast is yet attached and not much is even known about the plot … however, in an interview with MTV Movies Blog, Whedon had this to say:

[“It’s genius, it’s funny,† Goddard said. “It’s got a harder and darker edge, but it’s also got classic Whedon qualities. It’ll rip your heart out and be heartfelt at the same time.† Enough with the hype, what’s it about? “There’s a reason the title is so straightforward,† Goddard teased. “It’s its own sub-genre, the cabin in the woods, and this is sort of our take on it. It’s fresh and new.†]

I’m not going to sit here and cry foul, but it seems vaguely similar to a pair of film’s helmed by one Sam Raimi … at least in the most generic of terms. However, he does mention it’s “sort of their own take on it.” We’ll just have to wait and see what their “take” on that beloved “sub-genre” truly entails …