It’s not your standard college kids go out into the woods and are hunted by [fill in the blank bad guy/monster]. This is Joss Whedon, so he’s put a proper spin on the whole genre by dropping five college kids into a seemingly normal creepy cabin complete with cellar and nearby lake. I can’t really talk about the premise of the movie without giving away a little of the premise, so as a mini-spoiler just be aware that there’s a backstory to the film that you’ll figure out fairly quickly. This won’t ruin the movie for you, as Whedon preps you for the big reveal very early into the film. How early? First scene. How’s that for a twist?
2. Will I like it?
Maybe I’m easy to please, but I absolutely enjoyed it. The humor is great – it’s witty and absolutely hilarious when you consider his take on the the traditional horror movie themes (let’s split up, for example) as the main characters find themselves in all the typical situations we’ve come to expect from these types of films. Whedon offers up five characters who don’t fit the traditional roles (jock, for example) but then he slyly twists them in ways so that you know what’s coming based on typical stereotype character fates. In addition to some good jump-in-your-seat moments, Whedon has some great little nods to Clive Barker and Stephen King (and others that I’m sure I missed). And I completely love how Whedon takes some solid jabs at Japanese horror.
3. Is it appropriate for my kids?
Absolutely not. It’s got language, nudity, and violence. The R rating is there for a reason. What this means is that your 13-16 year olds will be plotting how to sneak in and your 17+ age group will be packing the theaters this weekend as word of mouth spreads.
4. Are there any familiar faces from Whedon’s favorite list of actors and actresses?
Fran Kranz and Amy Acker from Dollhouse are the most obvious, and Whedon also directs Chris Hemsworth (Thor) in the upcoming Avengers movie. And while Whedon’s mostly got a fairly new list of actors and actresses he’s working with here, you may recognize two guys quickly from some earlier comedy work, Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins — they work well together is all I’ll say. And I had to consult IMDB to be certain, but I knew I recognized Buffy alum Tom Lenk in a few scenes (he’s still hilarious).
5. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?
The movie is only 90 minutes long, so honestly there’s not much room for a bathroom run. Whedon doesn’t waste much time in this film, so you leave and you’ll definitely miss something. That said, there is a scene involving the RV leaving the cabin that could be a good time to make a run. But make it quick!
6. Any quotes in the movie that might make it into the mainstream?
Mainstream? No. Geek lexicon? Yes. More than you can count. My absolute favorite: Do not read the Latin.
7. Am I hearing rumors of a unicorn?
It’s Whedon, man. It could go either way.
8. Do I need to get there in time to see some good trailers?
They’re showing the new trailer for Looper as well as a new horror film called Chernobyl Diaries that looks pretty scary (from the same folks who brought you Paranormal Activity). And there was a very short teaser for Expendables 2. (I mention this only because it has such a great cast of 80s/90s action heroes — no idea about the actual plot.)
9. Do I need to sit through the credits for a bonus scene at the end?
No. There’s no bonus scene at the end, nor are there any cut scenes spread around in the credits. When the screen goes black, it’s over.
10. Will I want to see it again?
Probably not in the theater. I’d likely watch it again just to try and catch more nods to other horror movies and themes. There’s one key scene late in the movie that really deserves a freeze-frame that only a Blue-Ray disc can provide (or a copy of the Visual Companion that dishes all the details, including art samples and detailed closeups of some of the baddies).
0 comments:
Post a Comment