Film Review 1 (Cabin in the Woods)

Director: Drew Goddard

Brief Plot Outline: Five teenagers take a vacation to a cabin in the woods. They are used as stereotypical rituals in what is typically a horror film. Things don't go according to plan and the ritual fails, causing the end of the world.

Which two scenes impressed you the most, why?
The scenes in which chemicals are used to alter the behaviour of the victims into characters typical of a horror movie- The jock, the stone, the slut, the bookworm and the virgin/final girl. I also liked the scene where all the movie monsters escaped such as the clown, which seems to be inspired by characters like Pennywise. Fornicus, lord of bondage and pain who is a parody of Pinhead from Hellraiser and the giant octopus who seems to be inspired by The Kraken

How has watching this film helped you understand the genre of filmmaking?
This film is different to conventional horror films as it is a deconstruction of the whole genre. It knows the conventions and tropes of horror and creates them in its own universe. The characters personality are even changed so that they reflect typical horror movie characters.

Which aspects of the film would you like to include in your own trailer?
Even though the film deconstructs the genre of horror with its story and characters, the cinematography and mise en scene are very typical of horror films and could be used in my trailer.

What aspects of the film would you like to avoid in your own trailer?
I would avoid the parody and deconstruction and stick to a more basic plot

What was the best moment in the film?
Its hard to pick a single moment as the film was absolutely brilliant. For me it was thr monsters rampaging in the lab, my favourite one being the clown. I could not recreate this due to budget

How does the film show influence of its auteur?
The film is produce by Joss Whedon who is known for catering to die hard fans of certain things. In this case it is horror movie fans. The whole movie shows the horror genre in its entirety. Joss Whedons other films and tv shows include The Avengers, Buffy, Firefly and Dollhouse