'THE CABIN IN THE WOODS'

'THE CABIN IN THE WOODS' (R) (3 STARS)

Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard
Directed by Drew Goddard
Actors: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kanz, Jesse Williams

"The Cabin in the Woods" has gotten a lot of buzz and hype for being a very different and very fun horror movie. It is not a scary movie at all, it is more jokey and tongue-in-cheek. It is a very smart and original horror movie, more a satire to me. I laughed a lot and had a huge smile on my face during the wild and very cool last 20 minutes. It is not a great movie and doesn't live up to the hype but it is a blast.

"Cabin in the Woods" was created by Joss Whedon who gave us the hugely popular television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and his partner from that show Drew Goddard. "The Cabin in the Woods" reminded me of "Scream" but I like this movie a little better. It takes all the cliches of some familiar horror movies and bends and twists them with an ingenius story. Sometimes the movie is too clever for it's own good and the movie takes a little time to get going but those last 20 minutes I found so much fun.

I can't explain the plot without giving all the juicy surprises away but the opening 5 minutes sets the movie up so well by keeping you off your toes. Let's just say that the plot is like the cast of "The Breakfast Club" go on vacation to a cabin in the woods. Strange things will start to go down that will feel familiar but the end result is off the charts and highly original. With the beginning set up I felt like I was watching one of those cheap, cult, horror, grindhouse movies of the 70's. That first few minutes will leave you scratching your head and you will be wondering what is going on. Believe me the movie will get wild and make you laugh out loud in parts. I think horror movie fans will eat this up and they will appreciate the smarts and the gusto of the ending.

The production of the movie is surprisingly crisp and has the feel of a big budget movie when I expected a cheap looking movie. The actors are all effective and any horror movie with Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford is a bonus. I loved the stoner kid well played by Fran Kanz who I think is more of an original stoner kid then we usually see in a horror movie. You also get a future star in the making with the pretty Kristen Connolly as the heroine. I liked those two characters, loved Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford and I loved the creativity and the originality of the movie. Yes it is presented like your typical horror movie but it gets weirder and smarter and more different as it goes along and those last 20 minutes are pure genius.