The Cabin in the Woods

Directed by Drew Goddard and written by Goddard and Joss Whedon, The Cabin in the Woods is the story of five college students who go into a cabin where horrible things are happening unaware that a couple of technicians are controlling things from the outside. The film is a satire on the horror genre in some respects as it play into the many tropes of the slasher film genre as well as what people expect in these films. Starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Amy Acker, Brian White, and Bradley Whitford. The Cabin in the Woods is a witty yet thrilling film from Drew Goddard.

Five college kids go to a cabin in the middle of the woods as they believe nothing goes wrong yet they find something in a basement and all hell breaks loose usually leaving one person to survive to tell the tale or that person just ends up dead. That is a premise that is so typical of what to expect in a horror film as it’s been done so many times but what happens if that premise is told all over again but there’s people behind the scenes that are controlling the fate of these five college kids with one person to possibly survive? The film’s screenplay by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon play into these situations that is controlled by these two technicians in Gary Sitterson (Richard Jenkins) and Bradley Whitford (Steve Hadley). They would set up the scenario with small cameras and drones along with a few people that these students would encounter along the way.

Yet, the college students are the ones who unknowingly decide what they will face as they each bear every kind of stereotype expected in a slasher film such as the whore in Jules (Anna Hutchinson), the athlete in Curt (Chris Hemsworth), the scholar in Holden (Jesse Williams), the fool in Mary (Fran Kranz) and the virgin in Dana (Kristen Connolly) as she is the final girl in terms of what is expected in a slasher film. As the story goes on with these technicians and others watching with some making bets on what they will choose. However, a couple of these clichéd characters would break from what is expected in the genre as they would know that something is off as they encounter a far darker reality in the film’s third act.

Goddard’s direction does bear the many visual traits expected in a slasher film set in a cabin but he also would find ways to deviate from these ideas as well as play with the visual tropes. Shot largely on location near and around Vancouver in Canada, the film does play into the many ideas of what is expected on a trip to the woods though that narrative starts off at a small town where Dana is packing up as she is to meet her friends. While there are wide shots of the locations, Goddard’s direction mainly emphasizes on close-ups and medium shots to play into the intimacy inside the cabin as well as some of the things expected in and out of the cabin but also with some weird things. Particularly the scene at the cellar where there are these objects and whoever chooses an object and say something that is inscribed is the choice that these characters would unknowingly make as it is the fate they chose. Even as they would try to escape the cabin from what is attacking them would be even more complicated as it does play into a world where they are the puppets for something that is bigger than themselves.

Goddard’s direction for the scenes at this secret compound where a lot of people are observing and controlling the fate of these five students would have to embark on. It’s largely straightforward with some dark humor as well as some mysterious elements as it relates to what happens when someone gets killed as it’s a world bigger than anything as they’re trying to oversee everything in other parts of the world. The film’s third act is about the motivations of these technicians and who they work for as it adds to the intrigue of what these students are facing. Even as it would culminate into something extremely violent as well as play into the stakes of why these students are being killed as they wonder why they’re being puppets for this thing they’re in. Overall, Goddard crafts a chilling yet provocative film about five college students who go to a cabin in the woods where their fate is controlled by mysterious outsiders.

Cinematographer Peter Deming does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography from the usage of low-key colors and lighting for the scenes set in the woods including the cabin interiors and exteriors at night as well as the look of the control room. Editor Lisa Lassek does amazing work with the editing as it help play into the suspense and dark humor as well as playing with the conventional style of what is often expected in gory horror films. Production designer Martin Whist, with set decorator Hamish Purdy and supervising art director Tom Reta, does excellent work with the look of the cabin interiors as well as the scenes at the control room including a secret room that relates to something mysterious. Costume designer Shawna Trpcic does nice work with the costumes as it help play into the personality and expectation of what the college kids would wear as well as the more business-like look of the technicians.

Special makeup effects designer David LeRoy Anderson does incredible work with the look of the zombies as well as some of the gory effects used in the film that includes additional work from his wife in famed horror actress Heather Langekamp. Visual effects supervisor Todd Shifflett does terrific work with the visual effects such as a secret force field used for technicians to monitor as well as other things that lurk inside the compound. Sound designer Dane A. Davis does superb work with the sound as it help play into the atmosphere of the woods as well as the sound effects of what the students are facing including some of the noises that are made at the secret compound. The film’s music by David Julyan is wonderful for its low-key score that has some orchestral flourishes that play into the suspense and horror while music supervisor Dana Sano provide a soundtrack that mixes element of pop, indie, hip-hop, electronic music, and rock from acts like OK Go, REO Speedwagon, Ladyhawke, Asher Roth, Switchfoot, Eagles of Death Metal, Iggy Pop, the High Decibels, Motocade, Vassy, Soul River, and Nine Inch Nails.

The casting by Anya Colloff and Amy McIntyre Britt is marvelous as it include some notable small roles from Tom Lenk as Ronald the Intern who worships the technicians and wants to win money, Tim de Zarn as a creepy gas station manager, Brian J. White as the security officer Daniel Truman who watch over the technicians making sure nothing happens to them, and Amy Acker as a compound official in Wendy Lin who also watch over the technicians as well as realize things are going bad elsewhere. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford are fantastic in their respective roles as Gary Sitterson and Steve Hadley as the two leading technicians who are the best at what they do as they’re watching over these five students and make sure things go well but also realize that there’s a few who are becoming suspicious as they try to figure out how to out-smart them.

Anna Hutchinson is excellent as Jules as the typical whore who always wear skimpy and sexy clothes while being all about fun yet she would do things that are wild stuff as she’s fun to watch. Jesse Williams is brilliant as the kind scholar Holden whom Dana is falling for as he’s a good looking guy that is trying to be a nice guy and help out for whatever situation is happening. Fran Kranz is hilarious as the stoner Marty who is the comic relief of the film as he smokes a lot of weed and does dumb shit yet he is one of the few characters in the film that breaks from that stereotype where he is aware that something isn’t right. Chris Hemsworth is amazing as Curt as the athlete who does play into many of the usual traits expected as someone strong and courageous but is actually a nice guy. Finally, there’s Kristen Connolly in an incredible performance as Dana who is the virgin that is sort of reluctant to go to the cabin as she does play into what is expected with the final girl stereotype but she would also notice something is off and would deviate from what is expected.

The Cabin in the Woods is a tremendous film from Drew Goddard. Featuring a great ensemble cast, eerie visuals, a killer soundtrack, and an inventive yet provocative premise. The film is definitely a top-tier horror film that plays with the conventions as well as deviate from what usually happens in horror films. In the end, The Cabin in the Woods is an outstanding film from Drew Goddard.

Related: Bad Times at the El Royale

© thevoid99 2018

Much Ado About Nothing (2012 film)

Based on the play by William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing is the story of a two people who tricked themselves into thinking they’re in love with each other while trying to get two other people to fall in love with each other. Written for the screen, scored, co-edited, and directed by Joss Whedon, the film is set in a modern-day setting at Whedon’s home in Santa Monica with some changes to the text to play into the basic elements of Shakespeare’s story. Starring Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Reed Diamond, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, Fran Kranz, Sean Maher, and Jillian Morgese. Much Ado About Nothing is a whimsical and intoxicating film from Joss Whedon.

Set during a wedding ceremony that is to commence, the film revolves around two people who despise each other as they try to help two people get married as they also cope with their feelings for each other. During the course of the film, there’s a guest who wants to create ruin for the proceedings with a couple of his co-conspirators as it would later become chaotic. Joss Whedon’s screenplay definitely keeps a lot of the dialogue that William Shakespeare had written as well as the setting in the fictional town of Messina. Yet, Whedon would make some changes to the story as it is set in a modern world while expanding a few minor characters who play crucial roles to the story. There are also elements in the film that are comical as it relates to the character of Dogberry (Nathan Fillion) and his attempts to find the truth as he has to deal with the associates of the Don John (Sean Maher). Still, much of Whedon’s approach to the material remains faithful as well as infusing modern-day humor to play into the romance and comedy.

Whedon’s direction is definitely stylish not just for its black-and-white cinematography but also for its intimate setting as it is shot on location at the home of Whedon and his wife/producer Kai Cole as the house was built by the latter. While there are some wide shots of a few bits of the locations including the area around Whedon’s home, much of Whedon’s compositions are shot in and out of the house including the backyard with its swimming pool, garden court, and a view of the landscape around the house. Notably in the way Whedon would use the space to play into the way characters interact whether it’s in a close-up or in a medium shot that include scenes where Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Beatrice (Amy Acker) both would listen to other characters talk about the other person to play into this sense of attraction. The response from both Benedick and Beatrice is filled with a sense of slapstick comedy in the way they would try and hear what their friends are saying.

With Whedon also serving as a co-editor with Daniel Kaminsky and composing the music score as it’s a mixture of jazz, folk, and low-key orchestral music to play into the comedy. Much of the editing is straightforward with some jump-cuts and fade-to-white transitions to play into the humor and some of the drama. Even during the film’s second act as it relates to the wedding proceeding as it play into the love-hate relationship between Benedick and Beatrice where they become aware of what is happening. The comedy still looms as it relates to Dogberry and the way he’s been treated by the people he arrested. Whedon would also maintain that sense of imagery into the events of the third act as it relates to deceit and power control with Benedick and Beatrice trying to set things right. Overall, Whedon creates a lively and witty film about two people whose disdain towards one another leads to them falling in love and in helping a young couple get married.

Cinematographer Jay Hunter does brilliant work with the film’s black-and-white cinematography as it has this natural yet gorgeous look to the film for its scenes in the day and night including scenes in the latter that includes a dinner party. Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu do fantastic work with the look of some of the exteriors for the wedding as well as a few set decoration for the police base and some of the rooms at the house. Costume designer Shawna Trpcic does excellent work with the costumes from the casual look of the characters to some of the costumes and masks worn at the dinner party. Sound editor Victor Ray Ennis does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as music is presented in the film. Music supervisor Clint Bennett provides a wonderful soundtrack that feature a couple of songs written by William Shakespeare that are performed by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.

The film’s incredible cast feature appearances from Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney as watchmen, Romy Rosemont as the sexton who watches over Dogberry’s interrogation of Don John’s attendants, Paul M. Meston as Friar Francis, Tom Lenk as Dogberry’s partner Verges, Emma Bates as a maid/attendant to Hero, and Ashley Johnson as another young maid/attendant to Hero in Margaret who unknowingly becomes a victim of Don John’s scheme. Spencer Treat Clark and Riki Lindhome are superb in their respective roles as Don John’s attendants in Borachio and Conrade as two people who help Don John in his scheme with the latter being Don John’s lover. Nathan Fillion is fantastic as Dogberry as a police investigator who is watching over the proceedings as he is trying to figure out what is happening when the wedding plans is being ruined as it’s Fillion being very funny and offbeat. Reed Diamond is excellent as Don Pedro as the Prince of Aragon who is the best man that is trying to deal with the chaos of the wedding while not knowing who is creating all of this trouble.

Jillian Morgese and Fran Kranz are brilliant in their respective roles as Hero and Claudio as two young lovers who are about to be married only to be unaware of the forces that is trying to break them up. Sean Maher is amazing as Don John as the bastard prince brother of Don Pedro who despises the young lovers as he wants to ruin them in his own pursuit of power. Clark Gregg is marvelous as Hero’s father Leonato who is Messina’s governor that is dealing with the chaos of what happens as he wants justice for the people that ruined his daughter’s wedding. Finally, there’s the duo of Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker in phenomenal performances in their respective roles as Benedick and Beatrice with the former being a charmer that isn’t willing to be with Beatrice yet as feelings for him while the latter is an energetic figure who despises Benedick but is protective of her cousin Hero where she turns to Benedick for help in setting things right.

Much Ado About Nothing is a sensational film from Joss Whedon. Featuring a great ensemble cast, dazzling visuals, a simple yet effective setting, and some witty interpretation of William Shakespeare’s words. The film is definitely a lively and inspired take on Shakespeare’s comedy as well as setting it in a modern world that proves that Shakespeare can fit in towards any environment. In the end, Much Ado About Nothing is a spectacular film from Joss Whedon.

Joss Whedon Films: Serenity - The Avengers (2012 film) - The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Justice League

© thevoid99 2018