Just saw this for the first time. I thought it was a really interesting take on the horror genre. Once I found out that Joss Whedon also wrote The Avengers it made sense. The key signature of his style is the use of comedy inserted at timely moments. This technique is a hallmark of many classic horror movies, and works perfectly in a comic-book movie where levity can be refreshing.
I look forward to his upcoming works. I’ve heard great things about Firefly. I should check that out.
Gooble-gobble, gooble-gobble!
That’s a totally different movie!
The turkey dies.[/spoiler]
Philistines.
Philistines? At least I got your reference!
Yes, we got him now.
If you liked Cabin in the Woods try “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.”
Firefly is definitely worth watching.
Buffy is well worth watching, you might not like the first season or two though, it’s sort of a part-time teen drama mixed with paranormal stuff and vampire slaying. I think Buffy really gets good in the 3rd or 4th season.
A blend of drama and comedy is definitely part of Joss Whedon’s style, but the key for me is the way he sets up cliches and then subverts them … the blond girl who chases monsters, the hero who shoots first, the superhero who is basically just an ignorant bully. From what’s leaked through my spoiler filters, Cabin in the Woods also subverts the horror genre in some way. I just haven’t had a chance to see it for myself yet.
I just saw Cabin in the Woods for the first time as well. It was featured at Halloween Horror Nights as a “haunted house” theme, and though I haven’t seen many recent horror movies, I thought there might be something worthwhile in this one.
I really liked it. I went back and searched for threads about it here which helpfully pointed out some flaws in it, but while actually watching the movie, I was laughing and cheering out loud… come to think of it, I’m going to get the kids to watch it with me when we have some time off next week.
The flaws, if you’re interested:
Well, the two I can think of at least: 1. Why do they even have a button that opens all those rooms? 2. The ending…those kids didn’t have any loved ones?
The movie doesn’t so much subvert the horror genre as render it obsolete. It’s that good.
I just came here to post that I’m friends with both the editor and one of the SFX supervisors of that movie and it was when they invited me to the premiere, I. got. to. meet. Joss. Whedon!
One of the highlights of my life.
As far as number 2 goes i think the answer to “are your loved ones worth submitting people to incredibly horrific deaths on a regular basis” might be no if you just went through it.
As far as number 1 goes,
when all hell breaks loose, we get a quick line from one of the guys in the control room: “Why aren’t the defenses working? Where’s the fucking gas?” So some folks have speculated that the big red button is supposed to flood the area with gas and open all the doors – if, say, the menagerie ever needs to be rapidly relocated – which is still insanely stupid, but not pointlessly stupid.
Damn. Seriously jealous.
I am not so sure…
Acceptable, but then I’d have to say that was a nice piece of luck about the gas!
How much is Alan Tudyk paying you to recommend these?
Not that your recommendations are wrong, mind you…
I love Cabin in the Woods. I say that not just as a Joss fan, but as a fan of the horror genre. The flaws that were pointed out were, imho, a reflection on some of the crazyness of the genre in general. I actually think #2 in particular was sort of perfect.
Anyway, in the same vein as Cabin and the Tucker and Dale recommendation above I want to throw in recommendations for John Dies at the End and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon both of which are also awesome in similar ways.
If you like slasher flicks* (Friday the 13th* or Halloween style) Behind the Mask is particularly good.
I think a better way to say it is that this movie stands up with a megaphone and shouts, “Hey! We need to make better horror movies instead of rehashing the same concepts over and over to the point that they need to be part self-parody to even work!”