Doesn’t it seem as though almost every horror film follows an imaginary set of guidelines?
Horror movie buffs, and the occasional horror film viewer, know the “horror movie stereotypes” by heart.
One of the most popular is that if you have sex in a horror film, you die.
How about the weak girl that always seems to miraculously live while all the stronger characters die?
Or the popular line that makes you want to scream at the television: “We should split up.”
The new horror film “Cabin in the Woods” is here to play on these and much more.
The film is directed and co-written by Drew Goddard (“LOST”, “Cloverfield”) and co-written by Joss Whedon (“Angel”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).
From watching the trailer, viewers can draw their own conclusions as to what the movie is about.
There’s a scholar, a jock, a brat, a stoner and a weak girl. Sound familiar?
The new release has garnished popularity due to the fact that it plays off the typical stereotypes found in horror movies.
“You probably haven’t seen anything like this movie, ever. Whether or not you think you like horror movies, you’re definitely going to have a good time,” said Kristen Connolly, one of the stars of the film.
The horror-comedy opens up with five friends as they pack up for a weekend getaway at a, you guessed it, cabin in the woods. The friends pile into an RV and their journey begins.
However, the film cuts to a group of people dressed in lab coats who are watching their every move via a control room. Unbeknownst to their “watchers,” the group asks for directions at a nearby gas station.
The station seems deserted, save for a few jars of pickled frogs and miscellaneous pets fresh from the taxidermist. Cue the backwards veteran to jump out of nowhere, scaring the group.
Like most horror films with this approach, the creepy man has directions to the remote cabin. As expected, the group follows his directions to the cabin. They excitedly unpack their belongings when the scene cuts back to the control room, continuing to watch their every move.
As the night progresses, the five discover a cellar with numerous artifacts. Not much can be said after this point without stating spoilers.
“Cabin in the Woods” may have every horror stereotype imaginable, but it’s played off in a stylized comedy. From the inevitable “let’s split up” line to someone leaning against the window at night, the movie delivers laughs throughout the entire movie.
“I think Joss and Drew really took care of those stereotypes for us. We just played the movie as honestly and as real as we could and let them take care of the rest for us,” Connolly said.
Even though it harps on horror film quirks, it’s still very much a horror film. The lingering plot twist is unveiling who is watching them and why.
With such a masterful blend of laughing and jumping in your seat, the film won’t disappoint avid horror buffs.
“Cabin in the Woods” hits a theatre near you on Friday, April 13.