You’ve probably heard nothing about this preview because entry was given on the understandable condition that we all keep quiet until closer to the film’s release on April 13th.
With the embargo expired, we’re now free to tell you what a great film this is and how much we enjoyed it. But, and here’s the kicker, it’s very difficult to tell you why we enjoyed it.
The film is a classic slasher movie, 5 teenage friends go to stay in a remote cabin for a weekend and not all of them will make it home alive.
But behind that fairly routine plot summary there are some fantastic twists and turns which elevate this film above all other slasher pics.
Obviously we’re not going to spoil the film and tell you what those twists are, not just because we had to sign a form saying we wouldn’t but because to do so would be selfish and rob you of a great cinema experience.
And why would we want to do that? But it does make it much harder to explain why we think this is a great film you should go so.
Here’s what we can we tell you:
The Cabin in the Woods is VERY gory, very tense and, at times, deliberately very funny.
The cast – Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins and West Wing star Bradley Whitford – are all superb while Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard’s script is pitch perfect, very inventive and extremely subversive.
There are some great visual effects and one especially nice piece of casting which, again, we’re not going to spoil for you.
Ladies and Scotsmen should leave the skirts at home, the film will have you repeatedly jumping out of your seat and you’ll want to preserve what dignity you can!
When you’ve seen the film you’ll appreciate why this review is uniquely light on details, in the meantime we promise The Cabin in the Woods will change the way you look and think about slasher movies forever.
Our verdict: 4.5/5