UHM - Review - Cabin Fever

I remember being first emailed about this movie from director Eli Roth some time ago. At the time I didn't really know much of what to think, considering I hadn't really heard much about the flick until then. As time went on I started noticing that it may actually be a good movie. I guess that's where I made my mistake, because I expected a little too much and didn't get exactly what I was hoping for. The story is pretty simple - a group of friends vacation in an old cabin in the woods. They somehow contract some sort of strange virus or something which causes their skin to apparently be eaten until the host remains bloodied and disfigured. Paranoia and panic sets in, which ends up splitting the group and leaving every man for himself.

When this movie was shown at the Toronto Film Festival sometime last year, there was a bidding war for it between nine studios and Lion's Gate being the victor with a supposed sum of seven figures. This is a horror film like none we've seen recently. It's a movie that I personally found to have its ups and downs. It's an original flick, but it also plays homage to other films - one being Night of the Living Dead and of course Evil Dead. So is this a good movie? I personally thought it had a lot of potential. A lot of people really like it and a lot really hate it. I'm just a little in-between, because I liked the movie, but since I went in expecting more, I was a little let down in the end. I expected a big gore-fest of a flick. Although it did have decent gore, I expected a little more, but that's just me. I also expected a little more play on the paranoia of the group members. There was very little and when there was it was mainly just one person. I was hoping for more of a The Thing homage there.

Although one of my wussy friends kept getting scared, I personally found the movie more funny than scary. Sure it had its somewhat suspenseful moments, but it seemed to have more comedy. The flick has a lot of weird moments and scenes that sometimes don't entirely make sense (I.E. the pancakes karate-boy), which end up making the movie a little hilarious at times. I did, however, like the very funny ending, which lightened up the mood a bit. One big complaint I have about the movie is the horrible dialogue and acting by the deputy that shows up in the middle of the film. His role seemed to really have no point but to give the audience something to laugh at. I admit he was somewhat funny at times, but I just couldn't get into the guy. I did, however, find Eli Roth's cameo appearance as the pot-smokin' skater very amusing.

In the end I liked the movie, but not as much as I was hoping for. It had some decent gore and an interesting and original story, but the script could’ve used a little more work. I'm sure Eli will improve a lot over time. He’s already got a lot of flicks he’s planning to do ahead of him, plus having his own company that will put out low-budget horror flicks will keep him busy for quite a while. Anyway, an interesting tidbit about the story, apparently Eli came up with the idea for the flick after working on a farm or something and getting some odd rash that he had no idea how he got. At least I think that's how it goes. *shrugs*

OVERALL

A good watch for something original and out there, but expect a lot of weirdness and comedy. Don't go in seeing the flick expecting a lot, because that's why I didn't like it as much as I wanted.

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Louise :

Posted 190 days ago

That film sucks!!

Alvin Anderson :

Posted 339 days ago

I wasn't expecting a lot, either, but when the last two are sitting there after watching their friends die hideous, grusome, painfaul deaths and they are covered with blood, surrounded by body parts and they are waiting to die as horribly: Suddenly they're in the mood for SEX?! Nobody has ever been that dense or horny. Why not send out for a pizza? Obviously written by male virgins who were smoking too much. I'd give it a 1 on a 1 - 10. Most of the auidience where I was was laughing through this bomb.

ash :

Posted 395 days ago

not as bad as i thought it would be, but not that great either. for 1, i really didn't like any of the characters, besides bert, who is just a jackass, 2, there was never any sort of explaination for how the "infection" started killing people in the first place. so that made me kind of mad. and the weird kid screaming pancakes and biting people i just wanted to slap, but overall the gore didn't disappoint. (the scene with cerina vincent in the tub) and the ending kinda gave it that "the whole world it fucked" feel. i don't hate it, but it's not the best film i've ever seen either.

Robin :

Posted 402 days ago

I loved this movie, it scared the shit out of me!

Professor Chaos :

Posted 408 days ago

Cabin Fever sucked! Sure it was really funny, but it started off really slow. And when the gore finally came in, it wasn't much. I was VERY dissapointed in this movie, could have been so much better. I give it a 4/10

Driftwood :

Posted 408 days ago

"PANCAKES!!!!!"

Josh :

Posted 409 days ago

Shot very well, great story, funny, a complete random gore fest with a great ending. with Hostel 1 & 2 being a bore this maybe Eli Roth's best film he makes, watch it u will love it.

Daniel :

Posted 416 days ago

I GIVE CABIN FEVER 7/10

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