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THE CABIN IN THE WOODSMovie Reviews
Horror thriller about five friends whose trip to a remote cabin leads to terrifying discoveries. Cast:Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley WhitfordDirector:Drew GoddardRelease Date:April 13, 2012DVD Release:September 18, 2012From:LionsgateRating:RLength:1 hr 35 min
The Cabin in the Woods played to very good reviews. • Curt Holman wrote in Atlanta Creative Loafing, "Whedon and Goddard succeed almost too well... a film so funny and shocking as to make subsequent horror-getaway movies seem like an endangered species." • And Ann Hornaday called the film in the Washington Post, "...fiendishly clever..." More Reviews Below...
The Cabin in the Woods Positive Reviews (50 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: VERY GOOD(cg) "...sharper than your usual spooky fare.... Still, I can't shake the notion that a really good horror spoof, especially one as clever as this one, should be scarier and funnier."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 105 words, 04/12/12
Mary Pols, Time: EXCELLENT "...a very gory critique of the blood lust, caricature and objectification of horror films.... goes beyond the parody of the 'Scream' franchise into darker, richer territory."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 977 words, 04/13/12
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Go see 'The Cabin in the Woods,' then come back and we can have a conversation about it. Just trust me on this. The less you know going into it, the better."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 572 words, 04/12/12
Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...fresh and savvy... The clever 'Scream'-like tone allows for laughs (really!), gasps and a whole new appreciation for all things scary."(See all of Mara Reinstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 138 words, 04/12/12
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD(cg) "...this viewer is left to wonder: What does it take these days to really, seriously horrify?... the right blood splatters don't mean splat in a movie that feels like a game."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 715 words, 04/13/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a deliciously devious scare dance that keeps changing the steps until you lose your shit and fall helplessly into its demonic traps.... It's fiendishly funny."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 531 words, 04/13/12
Claudia Puig, USA Today: VERY GOOD(cg) "...has a hint of 'The Hunger Games,' a whiff of 'Big Brother' and a touch of 'The Truman Show'.... gets points for the twists and turns that come along with its sly wickedness."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 387 words, 04/13/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...it's exciting because it ventures so far off the map.... does have some genuine scares, but they're not really the point. This is like a final exam for fanboys."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 830 words, 04/13/12
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a kind of sendup/critique of contemporary horror films that delivers scares while upending the clichés... reasonably smart and exceptionally well-constructed..."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 749 words, 04/10/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...it must be forgiven the limited number of scares and the lackluster ending. The movie invigorates the genre, which is a rare and welcome thing."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 817 words, 04/11/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...does not quite work. Which is not to say that it entirely fails... There is a scholarly, nerdy, completist sensibility that is impressive until it becomes exhausting."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 860 words, 04/13/12
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "The miracle is that its faults don't detract from its jolts. Or the wit, courtesy of Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins, who steal the show one turn of the screw at a time."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 486 words, 04/13/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The laughs come easily, the screams not so much. It's as if the filmmakers got so wrapped up in the satire they forgot to include the intense sensation of rising dread..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 643 words, 04/13/12
Kyle Smith, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "...a vivid illustration of the difference between witty and smarmy. Wit makes you laugh. Smarm, on the other hand, may be clever, but it's hard to laugh at it..."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 582 words, 04/13/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...according to screenwriters Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, the script came together in three days, in the spirit of 'Let's try that too.' "(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 553 words, 04/13/12
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...endlessly inventive and speeds along with a giddy, infectious energy. It's a rare bait and switch where what you get is far better than what you were expecting."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 296 words, 04/13/12
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: VERY GOOD "...gleefully jumbling together every kind of modern horror picture... there are enough gory surprises around every bend to keep you laughing/screaming/cringing.... fun..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 185 words, 04/09/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...it's exciting because it ventures so far off the map.... does have some genuine scares, but they're not really the point. This is like a final exam for fanboys."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 830 words, 04/13/12
Mark Olsen, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...a film created simply for the sake of regarding its own genre smarts is a hollow vessel. Without a human, emotional component, there actually isn't much to spoil."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 04/11/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "The script is inspired, the direction is sprightly, and the third act does not falter. And everything you need to know is in the title. Well, almost everything."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 127 words, 04/12/12
KEY CITIES (13 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...fiendishly clever... marks a welcome return of cheap thrills and simple bump-in-the-night frights, with some stinging self-critical commentary on the side."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 531 words, 04/13/12
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Mind blown, hair on fire. Seeing 'The Cabin in the Woods' set a new personal benchmark for fiendishly creative takes on genre entertainment."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 519 words, 04/13/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a fantastic poke in the eye of our horror-movie expectations.... it gives us a new experience, something familiar yet different. It's a blast."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 507 words, 04/13/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "...if you like smartly twisted spins on worn-out horror cliches and if you have a strong stomach for flying body parts, put down the newspaper/laptop and go -- we'll talk later."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 662 words, 04/13/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "...then comes the last 20 minutes or so of the movie when all Hell breaks loose in an orgy of gruesome gore, a sort of Hollywood's Greatest Hits of monsters."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 564 words, 04/13/12
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The 'Lost' writer, in his directorial debut, has an appreciation of satirical subtlety and visual excess that is reminiscent of 'Robocop' director Paul Verhoeven in his prime."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 489 words, 04/13/12
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...gruesomely violent... despite all the ironic distance and layering and sly winking and homages -- the filmmakers want to comment on the violence and have it, too."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 371 words, 04/13/12
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT(cg) "...full of clever moments that may at first seem cheeky but come to feel inspired, with a third act that rises to a dizzyingly heightened level of metaphysics and mayhem."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 464 words, 04/13/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the next cult phenom... a wickedly smart hybrid mutation, biting the severed hand feeding the genre."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 508 words, 04/12/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...if you like nutty energy, wacky ideas, crisp dialogue and scary, bloody, gory, grotesque and twisted movies -- man, are you going to have a blast..."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 472 words, 04/13/12
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...never cheap or simple, nor is it exploitive... directed by horror movie veteran Drew Goddard with wit and style, and he's absolutely fearless about pushing the action..."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 04/13/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (11 Reviews)
Mark Olsen, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...a film created simply for the sake of regarding its own genre smarts is a hollow vessel. Without a human, emotional component, there actually isn't much to spoil."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 04/11/12
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: OUTSTANDING(cg) "It's so, so much fun to watch with an audience and to revel in that experience of being perfectly manipulated by a director and writer who know every button to push."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 541 words, 03/12/12
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...ingenious, entertaining, sadistic.... Goddard's ingenious contrivance (Joss Whedon co-wrote) takes you through the familiar paces and then opens a trapdoor."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 148 words, 04/12/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: MODERATE(cg) "...the film makes a point that's not new, but pleasurable. The kids 'choose' their fate, but they don't. The options are too limited and the outcomes too foregone."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,041 words, 04/13/12
Alison Willmore, Movieline: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...funny and scary enough to please the deeply fannish... sufficiently quick and smart to entertain those less inclined to dork out on the many horror in-jokes..."(See all of Alison Willmore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 906 words, 04/12/12
Jaime N. Christley, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...an ideal Hollywood film in the Age of Pixar: spectacle for spectacle's sake, but infiltrated by intelligent commentary and an atmosphere of generosity and inclusion."(See all of Jaime N. Christley's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 04/08/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "The script is inspired, the direction is sprightly, and the third act does not falter. And everything you need to know is in the title. Well, almost everything."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 127 words, 04/12/12
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: EXCELLENT(cg) "Whedon and Goddard succeed almost too well... a film so funny and shocking as to make subsequent horror-getaway movies seem like an endangered species."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 576 words, 04/12/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Absolutely genius movie. Totally brilliant.... You know how they say there are only six basic stories? I think Whedon and Goddard may have found a seventh."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 824 words, 04/09/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (6 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...borderline-brilliant... touches on questions of ethics as they apply to reality shows, and free will as it applies to all of us contestants in the game of real life..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 04/13/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...does not quite work. Which is not to say that it entirely fails... There is a scholarly, nerdy, completist sensibility that is impressive until it becomes exhausting."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 860 words, 04/13/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The laughs come easily, the screams not so much. It's as if the filmmakers got so wrapped up in the satire they forgot to include the intense sensation of rising dread..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 643 words, 04/13/12
Dana Stevens, Slate: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...rarely comes across as more than a cleverly constructed meta-cinematic puzzle. It's often funny and smart, but seldom deeply involving, and practically never scary."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 746 words, 04/12/12
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: EXCELLENT "Quite a bit of it is great, and most of it works, and the stuff that clicks is outrageously entertaining and funny, sometimes with surprising depth."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 975 words, 04/12/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "...a sly, self-conscious twist on one of slasher films' ugliest stepchildren: the coed campsite massacre.... a smarter, more self-aware kind of chiller that still delivers..."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 955 words, 03/09/12
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "...a video game waiting to happen.... never much more than a hollow exercise in self-reflexive cleverness that's not nearly as ingenious as it seems to think."(See all of David Rooney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,022 words, 03/09/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The laughs come easily, the screams not so much. It's as if the filmmakers got so wrapped up in the satire they forgot to include the intense sensation of rising dread..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 643 words, 04/13/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a welcome 'scenario adjustment' for the horror genre but, more than that, an important reminder that inventiveness can still go a long way in Hollywood..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 766 words, 04/09/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...does not quite work. Which is not to say that it entirely fails... There is a scholarly, nerdy, completist sensibility that is impressive until it becomes exhausting."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 860 words, 04/13/12
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...borderline-brilliant... touches on questions of ethics as they apply to reality shows, and free will as it applies to all of us contestants in the game of real life..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 04/13/12
16.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Cabin in the Woods's reviews are separated by an average 16.0 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Cabin in the Woods (50 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Cabin in the Woods's reviews cover 96.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 29,347 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 587 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Cabin in the Woods Coverage, Volume & Length (50 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 28.7 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Cabin in the Woods's reviews on average broke 28.7 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Cabin in the Woods's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Cabin in the Woods (50 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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