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WikiTiger 
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Member since Sep 2007
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| "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 9:16 am)
I finally watched "The Cabin in the Woods" last night and I loved it.
It was funny, entertaining, scary, thought-provoking, and most importantly: original.
I've gone back and read most of the threads on here about it, and I got to thinking about how perhaps two of the best horror movies, IMO, have been very self-aware, and self-parodying ("Scream" being the other).
And that got me thinking about the process that led to the creation of those films. For "Scream," it was the staleness of the slasher genre. It had become boring and predictable, full of sequels with no redeeming value, and then out of all that, a gem like "Scream" pops out.
And that same thing kind of happened with the process leading to "The Cabin in the Woods." I don't even know how I'd best described horror of the 2000's, but the word "good" wouldn't be used. It was bland, cheesy, and made for PG-13 audiences. But then out of all that, a gem like "The Cabin in the Woods" pops out.
So the question becomes: Does the horror genre depend on this kind of a cycle? Do we need to get into a rut before we can finally break out of it? Is the rut necessary in order for a film like "The Cabin in the Woods" to be appreciated?
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Matisyeezy 
Notre Dame Fan
Member since Feb 2012
2883 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 9:31 am to WikiTiger)
quote:
Do we need to get into a rut before we can finally break out of it
I think this is true. There has to be a system in place before a meta-style commentary of it can exist. Same thing for it to be appreciated, people have to have become dissatisfied with the status quo.
I don't think the horror genre is dependent upon it, however. No genre does. It's just difficult to continually innovate which is why things become so formulaic.
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Brettesaurus Rex
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| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 9:33 am to WikiTiger)
I really, really enjoyed Cabin in the Woods....until the end. I get what they were trying to do and say, but I think they could have pulled everything together than the abrupt cheesy ending it did have.
SPOILER
The big hand coming through the ground was just too over the top for me. I get it was supposed to be the "gods" or audience that didn't get what they wanted, but I just didn't like the way they did it. For such a self aware, well thought out core of the movie there just had to be a better way.
This post was edited on 11/23 at 9:34 am
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Brosef Stalin
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Member since Dec 2011
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| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 10:29 am to WikiTiger)
There are plenty of good foreign horror movies. Its the mainstream Hollywood ones that are stale.
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dallastiger55
LSU Fan
Fort Worth, TX
Member since Jan 2010
2027 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 2:54 pm to Brosef Stalin)
Cabin in the woods was dog shite.
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Icceytiger
LSU Fan
Topeka,KS
Member since Aug 2010
506 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 5:34 pm to dallastiger55)
i love the little robot at the end.. it seems so happy to be killing people lol
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JombieZombie 
Alabama Fan
North Alabama
Member since Nov 2009
2449 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 5:37 pm to dallastiger55)
Its self-awareness turns into parody towards the end. I like it more when I thought it was heading towards a horror version of The Truman Show.
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THRILLHO 
New Orleans Saints Fan
New Orleans, LA
Member since Apr 2006
26018 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 5:45 pm to Icceytiger)
quote:
i love the little robot at the end.. it seems so happy to be killing people lol
I just wish that we could have seen "Kevin."
quote:
Among the various possible monsters on the control room white board, one of them is just listed as "Kevin." Although Kevin is never seen, in the tie-in book The Cabin in the Woods: The Official Visual Companion co-writer Drew Goddard said that Kevin was meant to be "a sweet-looking guy who seemed like he might work at Best Buy--until he dismembers people."
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slaphappy
LSU Fan
BR
Member since Nov 2005
986 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 6:56 pm to THRILLHO)
Are you frickin' kidding me? That was one of the worst movies I have ever seen....ever...Total waste of time and money....
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BluegrassBelle 
Kentucky Fan
Valar Morghulis
Member since Nov 2010
25917 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 7:16 pm to Brosef Stalin)
quote:
There are plenty of good foreign horror movies. Its the mainstream Hollywood ones that are stale.
I love how the movie gives a nod to this, especially Japanese horror with the school girls they're competing against. 
I loved the movie. Totally refreshing and I loved the satire.
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BluegrassBelle
Kentucky Fan
Valar Morghulis
Member since Nov 2010
25917 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 7:18 pm to WikiTiger)
quote:
So the question becomes: Does the horror genre depend on this kind of a cycle? Do we need to get into a rut before we can finally break out of it? Is the rut necessary in order for a film like "The Cabin in the Woods" to be appreciated?
Hard to say knowing that the whole context of Cabin in the Woods is satirical. Would we have it without the rut it's addressing with it's satire?
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Scruffy 
USA Fan
Team Hugo Stiglitz 4 Life
Member since Jul 2011
18532 posts
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| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 7:25 pm to THRILLHO)
Me and my buddy paused the movie on the whiteboard. There were some freaking funny arse ones.
"Angry Molesting Tree" was my favorite. Nice reference to Evil Dead.
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Scruffy
USA Fan
Team Hugo Stiglitz 4 Life
Member since Jul 2011
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| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 7:26 pm to THRILLHO)
(no message)
This post was edited on 11/23 at 7:26 pm
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DayBowBow
Kentucky Fan
Member since Jun 2011
3362 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 7:58 pm to THRILLHO)
So Kevin was Kevin from Sin City?
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DaBeerz 
Virginia Tech Fan
Billsburg, VA
Member since Sep 2004
8886 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/23/12 at 10:23 pm to WikiTiger)
Just watched it too... Did not think it was scary.
Pretty shitty IMO ..., just a glorified hunger games/running man with a whole saving the earth scheme
Last house on the left... Now that shite was scary.
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ColdDuck
LSU Fan
BR via da Parish
Member since Sep 2006
1243 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/25/12 at 4:44 pm to DaBeerz)
I loved it as well. I had no idea what it was about. I thought it was very clever. I could see how people may have thought it sucked if they knew what it was about and were expecting more, but I literally thought it was a cheesy horror movie and it got better and better.
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Salmon
Montana Fan
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
18024 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/25/12 at 4:47 pm to DaBeerz)
quote:
Did not think it was scary.
it was not supposed to be scary
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BluegrassBelle
Kentucky Fan
Valar Morghulis
Member since Nov 2010
25917 posts
| re: "The Cabin in the Woods" and the self-aware horror flick (Posted on 11/25/12 at 4:52 pm to Scruffy)
Killer Unicorns.
How could anyone hate killer unicorns?
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