The Cabin In the Woods

To be honest, Cabin in the Woods is a pretty ridiculous movie. When I first started watching it I thought it was actually a horror film and although there are elements of horror and gothic. I thought the film was overall pretty silly.

There are some interesting concepts presented though. I want to focus mainly on the idea of the greater good/free will and the contrast of scifi vs. gothic. The movie is centered around governmental group that is forced to sacrifice living humans in order to satisfy the "ancient ones." They set up the scenario to make it seem like the people choose their fate out of free will but I think the director wants us to question the validity of this. Is it really free will to be forced by chemicals to have sex or go against your gut feeling? Is it free will to be locked in your room or video taped?

Along with presenting these questions the film also contrasts the genres of gothic and scifi. We start the film at a very stereotypical gothic house with horror cues left and right. Then as the movie progresses we are transferred into a world filled with scifi and futuristic ideas. I think it is definitely unique but I also think it is where most of my odd feelings come from. Mixing these genres the way they did and with all the clichés they did just made it a comical mess.