ALERT! The Cabin in the Woods is a film which I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you see without knowing much, if anything about the film.  This review is incredibly spoiler free, but BEWARE - OTHERS ARE NOT. Proceed to other reviews with caution.  And if you have blabby friends, that could be a problem too.

I have a complicated history with horror films.  Growing up, I loved the original Halloween, found myself watching the Friday the 13th series on the regular with WNUV 54’s Saturday slate of horror films, and I was DEATHLY afraid of Freddy Kruger…at least until they practically made him a looney tune in later years.  That said, most of the modern slate of horror turned me right off.

After the amazing, self-aware slasher film Scream, we saw far too many imitators (not to mention crummy sequels) which attempted to shatter the fourth wall, and if they weren’t aiming for the witty side of the horror fans brain, they attempted to indulge the gore-wishing side.  I’ve never been a fan of the so-called “torture porn” genre of films, and honestly, Hostel is one of my least favorite movie going experiences to date.

That said, I hope you understand that it’s no minor seal of approval when I say that The Cabin in the Woods isn’t just he best horror film since Scream, it’s arguably one of the best horror films ever made.

Directed by Cloverfield’s Drew Goddard and written by Buffy/Firefly/Dr. Horrible mastermind Joss Whedeon, the recipe is there for greatness - but what is truly great is how little of the hand is shown to you.  Based on the trailers (which, in a great twist for today’s marketing DON’T RUIN THE FILM), you have a tale of 5 teens headed to a creepy shack in the woods - a letterman jock (Thor’s Chris Helmsworth), a burnout (Fran Kranz), an “egghead” (Jesse Williams), a slutty blonde (Anna Hutchison), and yes, a virgin (Kristen Connolly).  Once they get settled into the cabin, things go terribly wrong.

Formulaic? Sort of.  There’s a much greater plan to what happens - and while you watch the film, you can start to piece together what it is…but it’s bigger than that, and it may even be bigger than what’s on screen.  To say any more would be to absolutely ruin what makes the film great, but I cannot stress enough how much you - especially if you’re a long time horror fan - need to see this film.  I haven’t enjoyed a US horror film for ages, and this absolutely filled me with joy.

Whedon’s script is incredibly smart, filled with his trademark witty dialogue, all the performances are aces, with the young cast playing each stereotype to the hilt (even if they’re a little more aware of them than the typical cast), and the supporting cast is pretty great, especially some amazing work from Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford…who might shine the brightest in this film.

The Cabin in the Woods isn’t going to be the film you expect, and the movie is world’s greater for it.  Get together with some of your best movie buff friends, and get ready to scream, laugh, and debate the film for ages to come.  This was a fantastic surprise, and I can’t wait to watch it - and analyze it - again, and again, and again.  Do it up.

By the way - I wanted to also thank Goddard and Whedon for giving the cinematic world another great character named Marty, other than McFly. Thanks, guys.