On the surface, “The Cabin in the Woods,” seems like a pretty standard horror film. A group of stereotypical characters head to a remote cabin for the weekend where bad things happen to them. But leave it to fanboy favorite Joss Whedon to shake things up. Whedon, the brains behind “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly,” co-wrote the film’s script with director Drew Goddard. The pair takes the simple premise and uses it to brilliantly deconstruct the horror genre in a way audiences haven’t seen since the first “Scream.” Filled with references to horror movies past and present, “The Cabin in the Woods” is a sort of meta-horror film that celebrates the joys of genre while simultaneously criticizing its low points.
Grade: A-
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