In the wake of Halloween and Friday the 13th, there have been a great many horror flicks that use secluded spots in the woods for their kill zones, from The Burning and Mother’s Day to Wrong Turn and Camp Slaughter.  The woods are cheap and easy to use, and there is something primordial about them that enhances visions of creepy killers and monsters on the move.  The Cabin in the Woods takes the archetypes of these horror movies and turns things upside down, with startling results.

Five college students (three guys, two girls) take a weekend trip into the woods for relaxation, but of course they get more than they bargained for.  Paralleling their travails are scenes of white-collar managers hard at work behind the scenes putting the teens in harm’s way.  Although I knew that another story layer was present (due to the previews, of course), it surprised me that this was revealed so early; I had assumed that it would be a surprise to the audience that evil was being manipulated. But no, it is an important story element from the beginning.

In fact, the film divides its time between the innocent teens being chased by a reborn redneck zombie family and the folks underground doing their best to keep the teens from escaping the undead.  As their purpose is gradually revealed, the story takes on a quality of casual terror which would be quite effective if the two main managers (Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford) weren’t so funny just taking care of their grisly business.  Actually, quite a lot of humor is present throughout the story, even when it might seem entirely inappropriate.  As a result the film is less frightening than it could have been, but far more entertaining.

Wildly imaginative, the film goes where few have ever gone before as far as the logic behind the terror.  It goes over the top eventually, especially with copious amounts of blood, but it consistently makes sense in its own twisted way, which is more than most horror films do.  I even liked the ending, which is most unusual.  So even though this is not my favorite type of film, I am impressed.  Drew Goddard’s movie is something most uncommon in Hollywood — original.  ✰ ✰ ✰.  19 April 2012.