The Cabin in the Woods (Drew Goddard)

[Dukefrukem]

Yup, that's it.

[megladon8]

Yup, that's it.

Well...are you going to give me a reason why you think that?

Because it really doesn't register with me, this idea that immature name calling and taunting qualifies as an "astute observation".

[Skitch]

I loved this, of course. Only one question...

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...after the stoner "dies", they pull the lever, blood pours down. I was assuming that was the blood of the victims? Or I guess just some other sacrifical blood they had laying around? If so, why not just release the other blood and call it a day? Wouldn't the blood they had used for the stoner (not really dead) be unworthy for the sacrifice?

]

[chrisnu]

I loved this, of course. Only one question...

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...after the stoner "dies", they pull the lever, blood pours down. I was assuming that was the blood of the victims? Or I guess just some other sacrifical blood they had laying around? If so, why not just release the other blood and call it a day? Wouldn't the blood they had used for the stoner (not really dead) be unworthy for the sacrifice?

]

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The sacrifice wasn't accepted. This was the only time there was a great deal of rumbling and shaking after blood had been released. It was either the stoner's blood which wasn't accepted because he hadn't been killed, or it was the zombie's blood.

]

[Dead & Messed Up]

Regarding the levers:

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It's just generic blood. Probably human, but not the sacrifices' specifically. The important thing is that it corresponds to the deaths.

]

[chrisnu]

Regarding the levers:

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It's just generic blood. Probably human, but not the sacrifices' specifically. The important thing is that it corresponds to the deaths.

]

Hmm. I did not know that. Makes sense, though.

[number8]

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Yeah, nobody ever collected the blood of the victims. How would you do that anyway if some of the deaths might call for being eaten by a giant snake? The whole reason they have to go through this whole routine is because what's important is the ritual. if it's just about blood, why bother killing anyone?

]

[Skitch]

Yeah, I thought the same thing 8, I was just curious about that aspect. I didn't think it would be possible to collect it either, but then again, there's a LOT of stuff in there was out of the realm of reality so who knows...

Chisnu, that was a good spot on the rumbling. Didn't consider that. So many reasons to watch this again!

[Kiusagi]

I didn't think this would hold up on a second viewing due to the surprise factor, but it did quite well. I had just as much fun.

There's just one thing I still don't get. Duke already asked this, but I'll ask it again.
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What was up with the tunnel guys not getting the order? Was it because they flipped the switch for Marty without him actually being dead and that screwed things up? Is there even a reason?

]

[Mara]

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What was up with the tunnel guys not getting the order? Was it because they flipped the switch for Marty without him actually being dead and that screwed things up? Is there even a reason?

]

No, I thought that was clear.

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MARTY messed up the order. When he was in the grave/loading dock he hacked into that panel on the wall and screwed up some of the relays. He has a line about being able to do some stuff there, but not much. Meanwhile, the problem with blowing the tunnel came from "upstairs" instead of "downstairs"-- and, as Bradley Whitford points out, there's nothing upstairs... except the cabin itself.

]

[Biff Justice]

I went into this with high expectations, and they were met, though not necessarily exceeded. I loved the dialogue and the "meta-ness" of the way they dealt with the horror genre in particular.

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While watching, I was disappointed with the second act and felt it was a dull repetition of horror tropes, until they made it to the third act and saw why the film was written this way. I do want to watch this a second time, though, and pay careful attention to Marty's "death." I thought it was just a little too convenient that he survived, but I'm guessing a second viewing will show me something I missed. That's my only complaint, and one I'm not sure is a legitimate one.

]

It was dumb fun, sure, but a hell of a lot of dumb fun.

[megladon8]

This movie wasn't dumb at all.

[Boner M]

This is going straight-to-DVD in Australia, apparently. :|

[Winston*]

This is going straight-to-DVD in Australia, apparently. :|

Here too. Sucks. I bet film festivals will pick it up though.

[Pop Trash]

This is going straight-to-DVD in Australia, apparently. :|

Too bad. I was hoping you could see it so you could give it two stars and 'nay' it.

[Boner M]

Here too. Sucks. I bet film festivals will pick it up though.

It makes no damn sense that this is happening after The Avengers breaks box office records, with a much-publicised local actor in the lead and great word of mouth/reviews to give it an extra push.

And yet Get the Gringo gets a theatrical release, FFS (despite going justifiably straight to cable in the US).

[Gizmo]

Glad I knew nothing going in other than "It's getting good reviews" and it may be a horror. I thought this was brilliant for the most part. Definately caught me off guard at times. My favorite of the year (which it had a 50% chance to be going in, but still...). I already want to see it again and pick up on stuff I missed.

[Dukefrukem]

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Meanwhile, the problem with blowing the tunnel came from "upstairs" instead of "downstairs"-- and, as Bradley Whitford points out, there's nothing upstairs... except the cabin itself.

]

That still doesn't answer my question though.

[number8]

That still doesn't answer my question though.

What is your question? Why they didn't get the call? That answers it.

[lovejuice]

As wonderful as this may be, I can give it only a mild yay.

At time it feels more like television series, and constantly reminds me of the pedigree of people involved. Things seem to happen for a shock impact, and when you try to put them back together, they don't quite fit.

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For example, how important is it that everyone dies in a horror film manner? If so, how does the death of Hemsworth qualify as such? The "release monsters" button is very funny, but after all it feels like they are yet in another cliche horror movie.

]

These are all really small points, and even I won't call them plot holes. I had a mighty fun with it, but can't help feeling things are slapdash put together for a big revelation/climax:

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the elevator scene

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[Dukefrukem]

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It isn't important that Hemsworth's dies in the horror film manner, it's just important that he dies. The humor behind the horror film manner deaths is represented with the decision making in the basement, as well as the "we should cover more ground" portion and sex in the woods scene. I'm not quite sure you understood most of the horror cliches the way you are questioning it as a shock impact. IMO, they should have never have shown the eagle flying into the dome. Then Hemsworth's death would really be for shock.

]

[Gizmo]

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It isn't important that Hemsworth's dies in the horror film manner, it's just important that he dies. The humor behind the horror film manner deaths is represented with the decision making in the basement, as well as the "we should cover more ground" portion and sex in the woods scene. I'm not quite sure you understood most of the horror cliches the way you are questioning it as a shock impact. IMO, they should have never have shown the eagle flying into the dome. Then Hemsworth's death would really be for shock.

]

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I think showing the eagle played into the trope of the audience knowing more than the characters. It slowly built to what we knew was going to happen and they didn't. I thought it was great.

]

[Dead & Messed Up]

One might look at

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Hemsworth's death as the ultimate form of "splitting up." He splits up, and then he...splits up.

]

[Spinal]

It's not bad, but certainly feels like well-traversed territory. I read very little about it beforehand; so, as I started to piece together what it was, I was somewhat disappointed. Unlike Scream or Funny Games, this film does not succeed in drawing the viewer in with thrills or tension. Deconstruction seems to work best when the subject of critique is well executed. Whether intentional or not, the ostensible horror film here is not well directed, and is thus very easy to dismiss.

There is insight and imagination in the definition of the film's 'outer' world. Once a comparison was made between contemporary horror films and ancient human sacrifice, my ears pricked up. Unfortunately, the exploration of this premise left me wanting. When a character advocates the end of humanity in the film's closing moments, is that really what I'm supposed to take away? That humanity is hopelessly cruel and rotten? I doubt it, but the film is otherwise unclear in nailing down its own purpose.

[Spinal]

Highlight of the film:

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Richard Jenkins screaming obscenities at Japanese schoolgirls.

]