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Giancarlo (Giancarlo)
Username: Giancarlo

Registered: 11-2008
Posted From: 217.203.119.47
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 08:13 am:   

I don't agree with the general high value reviews concerning this flick. Imo there is a great idea in the background story, even bordering a Lovecraftian theme, but it looks as if they tried to squeeze a shark into a red fish bowl. The blood feast climax is fun but not scare. The story could have been a better subject for a telly serial, such as Lost or The Walking Dead. As it is, I deem "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" even preferrable to such failed a promise. These are highly personal opinions, of course. Anybody aiming stones at my appreciation?
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Kate (Kathleen)
Username: Kathleen

Registered: 09-2009
Posted From: 81.158.152.219
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 12:06 pm:   

I can't throw stones because opinions and tastes are individual. But I thought "The Cabin in the Woods" was brilliant fun and too many of the harsh critical reviews I've read seem to be taking it far too seriously. I thought it was meant to be a horror *comedy* - ie, fun first and foremost. Which it was for me. It was a clever, affectionate send-up of the genre tropes and I loved it.

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", on the other hand, was a huge disappointment. I think it was meant to be a scary film but it seemed more like something made for kids. Plus they mispronounced "Machen".
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Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey)
Username: Ramsey

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 92.8.28.154
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 12:59 pm:   

Ah! How did they pronounce it?
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Kate (Kathleen)
Username: Kathleen

Registered: 09-2009
Posted From: 81.158.152.219
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 04:42 pm:   

I think it was either "matchen" or "maykin". Just remember it grated!
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.31.1
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 04:48 pm:   

'The Cabin In The Woods' is an instant classic out-and-out horror spoof and one of the most thoroughly entertaining and brilliantly constructed genre movies of recent years. As I said on the "Films of 2012" thread it is the best film of its kind since 'Shaun Of The Dead' and every bit as effective both as a laugh out loud comedy and a genuinely exciting horror thriller. The central premise is one of the most inspired I have come across and was an ingenious way for the filmmakers to reference just about every horror cliché in the book from Lovecraft's Great Old Ones to Romeroesque zombie apocalypse, Grudge-style Asian ghost story to teen slasher movie, and so much more... and make it work!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.232.199.129
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 05:46 pm:   

I wondered whether to go and see this when it first came out. I originally thought it was probably just another stalk-and-slash film, but then I read something about it being just that little bit different and therefore felt it might be worth a go. Sadly, I didn't get the chance to go to the cinema as I've been up to my eyeballs in work, etc. Might try to catch it later on cable though - it does sound like it's worth a look!
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Kate (Kathleen)
Username: Kathleen

Registered: 09-2009
Posted From: 81.158.152.219
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 05:49 pm:   

Caroline - it's best seen knowing as little as possible about it so don't read anything (else) beforehand!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.232.199.129
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 05:51 pm:   

Thanks, Kate - better give this thread a miss till I get the chance to see it then!
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Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2012 - 04:48 pm:   

Finally caught up with this. I'm not sure what to think... I was entertained, one can't help but be. But cotton candy is entertaining too: overall, this film doesn't feel any more lasting nor affecting, for all its "originality" and zaniness.

Does anyone remember the "Garbage Pail Kids" cards? It was fun at the time, flipping through the deck, to see all the many and different kinds of ways they parodied the original "Cabbage Patch Kids," mostly to horrific effect. Quantity was the virtue there; and when you exhausted the deck, or all the cards you could find... you shrugged, and moved on.

Flipping from one horror film villain to another, after another after another after another, is this film's big shtick. It was great that the filmmakers didn't (I presume? I'd be really impressed, if they choose not to seek them) secure the copyright permissions to, say, just plop in creatures like Pinhead or the psycho killers from The Strangers, etc.: it made the produced efforts we see on-screen, that much more fascinatingly creative. This movie is its climax, and it's a lot of work getting to it.

But then, that climax is just an elaborate video game: the logic of the whole, even for a parody like this (I guess one would have to call this whole thing a "parody"), was ramshackle and straining. It is "exhibit A" of what I'm terming the age of "Spectacle," that's going to be the dominating entertainment for some time to come. Unfortunately, as exhibit A reveals, we're still trying to escape the event horizon of video games. But soon, soon, we might have some wonderful product indeed....
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Mbfg (Mbfg)
Username: Mbfg

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 90.199.246.200
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2012 - 07:22 pm:   

What is wrong with me? I love horror stories but can sledom be bothered to go and see any horror films or rent the DVDs. I guess it is because I am almost ALWAYS dispointed by horror films. Except "Let me in" and the original "Ring", oh and a little Korean masterpiece about two sisters (sorry, can't remember the title).

I watched "Bel Ami" the other night and found it to be more disturbing than most horror movies I've sat through. The darkness was the dark in man's soul. Sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread. I will watch "Cabin in the Woods" as atonement and let you know what I thought of it.

Cheers
Terry
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 82.29.244.47
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2012 - 07:29 pm:   

Just remember that 'The Cabin In The Woods' was intended as a horror comedy, Terry. As such it is the finest one made since 'Shaun Of The Dead' imho.
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Mbfg (Mbfg)
Username: Mbfg

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 90.199.246.200
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2012 - 08:12 pm:   

Noted Stevie.

I fear I sounded a bit dismissive because there are some excellent horror films out there, they are just very hard to find.
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Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey)
Username: Ramsey

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 92.8.31.84
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2012 - 10:51 pm:   

I think you mean A Tale of Two Sisters, Terry? On DVD, give Kill List a shot.
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Mbfg (Mbfg)
Username: Mbfg

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 212.219.63.204
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2012 - 10:37 am:   

I have seen "Kill List" Ramsey, and it too was an excellent and disturbing film. "A Tale of Two Sisters" sounds like the Korean film I mentioned. The pattern here seems to be that it is the lower budget, smaller horror films that appeal to me.

I tend to like "horror" films that are not filed under "Horror", such as "The Wave" and an excellent Russian war film called "Come and See" - or something similar. (Memory's going as well!)

Cheers
Terry

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