One detail I personally love, is how "We work with what we have" works in execution. Each of the sacrifices is miscast BY the Sacrificers. "The Whore" is the one in a committed relationship, but is the only one to have sex "on screen"( when they get to the Cabin) and is immediately killed for it. "The Jock" is shown being intelligent enough to reccomend a book that will be intriguing and not boring. "The Nerd" is shown being less studious than the Jock, but he's forced into the mold. "The Virgin" is coming off of an affair with one of her professors. And "The Fool" is actually the one to figure everything out, while accidentally becoming The Hero. We are not who we are indeed, Marty.
Movies like this should really be celebrated. I don't mean the violence and stuff but unique. creative, well executed ideas that simultaneously subvert expectations while also just having fun.
@@mr_k4tz Indeed. They often fail to even come close to the movies they copy. I've had a (not-serious-but-humorous) theory since the early 2000's that a virus hit Hollywood around the start of the new millennium (the real Y2K bug?) that destroyed the creativity of most writers and creators, forcing them to make remakes, prequels, sequels or "reimagining's". Movie makers are also so lazy these days. They use way too much CGI, making things look fake or unconvincing. Sure, sometimes it looks pretty good but even the best CGI can't compare to the pure practical effects like those used in 1982's The Thing.
This movie is great because it subverts so many specific expectations and tropes, while still having a functional plot and structure... and likable characters. Subversion done right!!
The "ancient ones" are us, the audience. All the folks in the control rooms are the production crew, making the movie. They have to placate the "ancient ones", or else the franchise ends. They actually did make a working travel mug/giant bong for the film. They missed a huge money-making opportunity by not marketing them. 😁
Correct! And, took my thunder to post it. One you missed is Sigourney's character; the producer. The entire "phone call" to the "crew" was a "studio interference" nod. Then you had the Harbinger of Doom at the gas station, a nod to movies like Friday the 13th with the "you're going to die" character. The list of monsters that can be used in any horror movie. The force field was the way to show why the characters didn't just leave. Other tropes given a reason; mist to push the sex, the hair die to make her more stupid, the shock to drop the weapon, etc. The line, "we're not the only people watching", a nod to the audience wanting to watch sex scenes. The different regions doing the same thing, with only one of them needing to succeed, a nod to if the audience gets one good horror flick a year they are placated. The ending is up in the air. The cast being difficult during a movie shoot that can derail the entire process and lead to the audience (ancient ones) rising up in anger? That's my guess.
@@funnylilgalreacts Cabin in the Woods is one of those movies that is totally re-watchable. It went unreleased until after Hemsworth was a star, then to bank on that, the studio released the movie.
Fun fact: The costume designer, Shawna Trpcic, was initially only supposed to design just one villain, but at the last minute had to design ALL of those you see. And she f'ing nailed it. She also designed Firefly before this and The Mandalorian / Boba Fest / Ahsoka after. She's a rock star!
@@catserver8577 So say we all. I just left her funeral half an hour ago, and good gods did Shawna bring so much joy to SO many people. Knowing her changed my world. I miss her so much.
Fun fact, the actor that plays Marty was totally muscled out during the filming of this. Hence why he was always wearing a lot of layers and why he didn't go swimming during the lake scene
25:30 - "Where the hell did he come from?" When they fled the cabin in the camper, the movie focused on a muddy handprint on the door setting up a Buckner hiding in the camper.
I think the reveal of the invisible shield, spoiled the death of Curt slightly. You could see his death coming from a mile away. But I can't think of a good way of doing this differently, without making the shield something that came out of nowhere otherwise. Maybe showing the technology in a different place, so the use of it at the gorge is more of an surprise? But otherwise, I'm with you.
@@Deckaio I hate it. It feels like a test audience adjustment, like they had to put that in there because people responded poorly to the original reveal. And I can see the argument for doing it but it does feel like a spoiler that sucks the life out of the whole attempted escape sequence.
@@KaiHouston-m6j The difference is knowledge & permission. She had no idea. He knew the window was still uncovered when he gave her the room, knew she might still be there looking, and he stood right in front of it undressing, inviting her to watch.
I love how this movie is not just an amazing parody of the genre, but is in fact also one of the better examples of a horror. Because it actually takes the time to establish the characters as real individuals and also makes them good and likeable. Just the opposite of how most horror movie "characters" are done.
This movie... is never what anyone expects. It is both a homage to the horror genre and a total mockery of it. You spend equal time being repulsed but the "monster", pissed at the puppeteers and rooting for the sacrifices... while being completely confused. Great reaction. I adored watching you, and seeing this movie through fresh eyes.
The actor who plays the gas station attendant is Tim DeZarn. I got to meet him at a convention and he is absolutely one of the sweetest human beings you could possibly meet! It so amazing that he is able to play such a creepy person. This movie is such a rollercoaster, especially the first time you watch it. On rewatching, you pick up on a lot of stuff! Like that the earthquake happens when they think Marty is "killed", and they trigger the machine that shows the sacrifice being met, but the gods know he is still alive and are upset, causing the earthquake. Also, when you said it's creepy about her showing her boobs because people are paying for it, you just described every horror movie. We, the movie going audience, represent the "Old Gods". It's why people like movies that conform to movie tropes.
It's so funny; about a third of the way into the movie I was like 'aww, I would have liked to see some of those other monsters and such'. And then the system purge. HA
@@funnylilgalreacts It's great to go back and look at still-frames of the "menagerie" scene of all the monsters in their containers. There are references all over the place from The Shining (the twin girls) to even video games like Left 4 Dead (there's a Boomer).
This was the mind of Joss Whedon. The man behind Buffy and Angel (and Firefly among others) He co-wrote as well as produced this. That's why Goddard got the director's job.
Eh, that's a bit unfair to Goddard. They both conceived, broke, and wrote this story. I adore all of Whedon's work but Goddard's voice is in this script and its direction (obviously). Saying it came from the mind of Whedon does Goddard's mind a disservice.
It’s a genuinely masterful parody, such a love letter to the things it’s parodying - it makes it much more charming than sneering at every trope, as if they aren’t the bread and butter that makes the horror genre so fun
This movie is such a goldmine for reactions, watching this through you was just as delightful as watching it for the first time. fun fact: during the press tour, some clueless journalist asked the filmmakers if they were thinking of making a sequel. They answered with "...Have you seen the movie???"
They could have those OP Japanese girls summon Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra, etc... to take on the God giants. I'd watch that movie! Or have the humans nuke the Gods and the Gods summon the mega monsters as they die.
I love how this movie works on so many different layers. As a straight up horror movie, as a parody of horror tropes, and as a meta-commentary on our bloodlust as viewers.
I loved this film. It was so unexpectedly awesome. My nieces (ages 13 and 15, at the time) saw the "purge" scene, and when the elevators, "dinged," the 13-year-old threw up her arms and shouted, "Yes!", and the 15-year-old said, "That's awesome!"
What upsets you more, the fact that they messed with her brain, or that they dyed her hair? You know it's making fun of the trope, right? Have you ever seen Blazing Saddles? I get the feeling you'd hate it
@@r4pids absolutely agree! Messing with her brain and affecting her choices with things like the libido stimulator and the pheromone mist as well as something so innocent as hair dye which should have just been something fun for her to be able to do with her hair! I get the “dumb blonde” was the thing they were going for but what they did was so sinister!
This is one of those movies where you have to do a deeper dive on the trivia behind it. The whole meta concept where the "Elder Gods" are a metaphor for the audience. The way each trinket in the basement had a corresponding monster and lore, whether they were picked up or even seen. So many incredible details that were all in homage to the horror genre.
Mordecai: Don't take this lightly, boy. It wasn't all by your numbers. The Fool nearly derailed the invocation with his insolence. The Ancient Ones see everything. And they will not be... I'm still on speakerphone, aren't I? Hadley: [everyone laughing hysterically] Oh my God. Mordecai! I can't believe it. It did it again! Mordy? What happens next?
This is very much in the style of Buff/Angel (Joss Whedon) and it features a number of actors that were in Joss Whedon TV shows. The guy with the saws in his head and the puzzle sphere was inspired by Pinhead and the puzzle box from Hellraiser (1987) so if you want to see him in action just watch Hellraiser. Warning Hellraiser is incredibly graphic but also a must watch if you are into horror movies. If you have seen The Evil Dead you will probabbly be okay with Hellraiser.
The cabin in this is the same one used in The Evil Dead. They used it in Tucker & Dave vs Evil as well, hence the 'vs Evil' that didn't really seem to be in the movie
Fun fact: the actor who played the stoner was super jacked when they shot the film, even more than Hemsworth, so they had him wear all those layers and baggy clothes. So technically he was a jock too xD
I knew Joss Whedon's work from Buffy & Angel, so I knew it was going to be top quality, but the caliber of the creatures is just off the charts. I wish in my heart of hearts that they would go back and give at least half of those critters films of their own. The robotic lumberjack, the unicorn, the devilbat? All classics. The scarecrows and masked folk, even the clown have all had movies done throughout the 80s. But after so many monster movies where the creature is almost an afterthought in the budget, its nice to see some really great ghoulies for a change!
It's interesting that the "adults" have the same archetypes. Richard Jenkins the brain, Bradley Whitford, the fool with Sigourney being the final girl dying last.
The guy with the sawblades, Fornicus, Lord of Bondage and Pain (he's in the credits, seriously!) is also my favorite of the nightmares in storage and I too would've liked to see him in action. :D
There's a TV show that follows after a movie trilogy called 'The Librarians' about a group that tackles magical threats in modern times. In one episode the think they're facing an evil magical house but it turns out that house *itself* is not evil. Its the houses occupant that's evil and the house is a sort of wish granting entity so its basically a victim as well. They manage to evict coocoo mcCrazy pants and the house sends itself to another dimension so it can't be used for evil again.
I love this movie. My favorite moment is the elevator "ding!" I was trying to describe this movie to a coworker. I said, "you think you're watching a slasher flick, but you're not and I can't tell you anything else or I'll ruin it." They watched it, loved it, and said that the description was dead on.
I love so much the tropes and the trope reversals. Like, the voice of reason is the stoner... Although, come to think of it, it actually fits the role they picked for him, the Fool.
I like the Meta of this, basically every horror movie you have ever seen, wasn't a movie, it was the footage of one of the sacrifices from around the world to the Elder Gods. Control-Room Gary yelling at the victorious Japanese girls on the TV screen kills me every time. This movie was an instant classic the day it came out. Oh, and always take a stoner with you camping and/or adventuring.
Saw it in theaters when it first came out - went with a friend who was also a Buffy/Angel fan, so had been following Drew's stuff. No idea what it was really about, and, like you, absolutely loved it when the elevator doors started opening. Genius. Happy Halloween!
The funny thing about Fran Kranz as the stoner Marty was that he was more jacked than Thor in this movie, which is why he wears such baggy clothes. But you can still tell just looking at Marty in the day scenes. He's also pretty good in You Might Be The Killer, another horror comedy.
I was hoping more people would react to this movie but didn't dream it could be one of my favorite expanse reactors. watching this now, thanks for the entertainment :))
Fun Fact: I saw this in the cinema in Melbourne on release, and when we all emerged from the theatre and checked our phones, we discovered there’d been a minor earthquake which had somehow timed itself with the one in the film… we were none the wiser
Regarding what you mentioned about preferring that you'd not known it was a horror/comedy: I always use this film as a good example of what constitutes "spoiler edge cases." When the film first came out, a lot of people ("evangelists" here) I knew were recommending it to other people ("scaredy cats"). I'd seen it opening night, so I knew what it was about. The scaredy cats always made the same complaint, "I don't like horror movies." But lots of these evangelists for the film would then tell them "it's not really a horror movie." Which, in this case, is a HUGE spoiler. It wouldn't normally be one (i.e. "the Expanse is a sci-fi show"), but in this case, I think it really undermines the experience. Instead of saying that it's a horror/comedy or not really a horror movie, I would just say, "Hey, I get that. I don't like horror movies either. But this is a great film. I know your taste in movies, too. So trust me, you should definitely check this one out as soon as possible. You'll love it."
I swear to goodness this movie is like a fine wine that goes with everything! After watching it, it’s nearly impossible to not imagine an entire facility underneath “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Wrong Turn” controlling their dumb decisions after this one. I still wish the white-masked killers had been summoned though, they seemed interesting. Great vid! It’s always fun to see first reactions lol
It gets even more interesting if you think about the original Evil Dead, but from the perspective that the whole thing was orchestrated by some shadowy, quasi-governmental organization.
I always thought of this movie as a meta-horror movie. It uses all these horror tropes as a way to play with horror movie expectations, where they have set formulas they had to stick to, or else the "ancient ones" arise and destroy the world. Edit: The "Ancient Ones" being the horror movie audience.
Cabin in the Woods is a metaphor for making horror movies. We are the Old Ones. If we're not entertained we destroy the studio and franchise. The reason the intended outcome was derivative was that people are tired of derivative horror.
This movie is a homage to all the slasher/horror movies and books it uses as a reference, either directly or as easter eggs; The Evil Dead, Friday the 13th, Cube, Ringu, H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythology etc. and easter eggs like Hellraiser, IT, Night of the Living Dead, Alien and so on. I love the mix of horror, comedy and nostalgia that this movie encompass. It reminds me of all the years I spent watching slasher and horror movies (and still do although I find it's hard to find good ones in modern horror these days).
Circular saw blade head was their version of Pinhead from Hellraiser. The split second you saw of the surgeon and his scalpel and the victim screaming was probably House on Haunted Hill, which is AMAZING and you should watch that.
The remake of it is good IMO. The sequel to the remake was ok. A good lower budget movie to track down is the DVD cut of Stay Alive. Do not get the VOD version; it was neutered by the studio. REALLY neutered. They used scenes from the original cut to promote the studio release and had cut those scenes. For a low budget flick, was really good (again, IMO). But, you have to get the DVD original cut.
@@jthomann71 Yes, I know. I like that version (remake) a little better than the Price original. But, really need the uncut version so the gore isn't toned out. I've got both the remake and it's sequel on dvd.
I love the fact that even if she had killed Marty, it would have all still gone to hell. They didn't realise that he was the virgin, and by way of sleeping with her teacher, she was the fool.
that defeats the purpose of them having a choice to save the world and choosing against it.... they didnt need a virgin he filled the stoner spot and she was the odd one out that didnt fit any role in the group but they had to "work with what they had"... lots of hidden gems in this movie but thats not one of them
"He's got a husband bulge." Tucker & Dale was in the top 3 horrors for me, this is another one. I wonder I'd we'll get to the 3rd one? Maybe next year.
Being a big horror fan this feels like a love letter to the genre. It has so many nods to other classics while also setting up an alibi for every bad one for why the protagonists are so dumb. Such a fun movie to rewatch.
Fun little facts. In the beginning, when they were talking about the year the U.S. "blew it," was the year The Faculty came out- a horror movie where none of the students died. Second, the sacrifices from the other countries were all lore-accurate to those regions. In the US, it is horror movie tropes.
I saw this in theaters way back when completely blind and was very confused while watching it but ended up being one of my favorites, especially for its time was super unique
Same. I went to watch it actually a bit upset because a friend of mine suggested it and I thought, ugh some lame horror movie. I came out the theater geeking out about it more than she did. Such a crazy fun movie.
@38:19 "Who's brain comes up with something like this?" That would be Joss Whedon!!! He's a genius. I recommend watching everything this man has made, starting with Buffy the Vampire Slayer the tvseries!!
You mention wishing you didn't know it was a horror/comedy stepping in. The brilliant thing was that when it was released they marketed it as a straight up horror and some people who bought tickets thought they walked into the wrong theater when it opened up with the office scene. In a highly rare case of respect from the masses, those who saw it, critics alike, didn't spoil the 'twist' when recommending it to others. It wasn't until it hit DVD where people started opening up about its meta humor and began discussing the correlation between the 'old gods' and the rabid movie goers who came to see the movie that it started getting labelled more accurately as a horror/comedy it was since the cat was pretty much out of the bag at that point.
I sure hope that the blood shooting out of the merman's blowhole was supposed to be funny, because I distinctly remember that when I first saw this movie it made me & everyone else in the theatre laugh like crazy... Everyone was already laughing at the fact that he was getting killed by a merman, and the blowhole was the cherry on top that made the theatre explode in laughter.
Great movie. The perfect blend of dark humor and terror encompassing just about every horror trope and creature imaginable, ripped right from the pages of modern day scary movie scripts. And the only one who saw through it all was the stoner. Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard really outdid themselves on this. Incidentally.... The bong/mug was $5000 for the props department to make, and it was fully functional as both. :) Also.... If you didn't already figure it out..... "The ancient ones" represent the audience.... Us..... Who have to be pleased by all the death in your typical scary movie. Well, at least everyone but the "virgin"/"final girl". The whole thing was Whedon and Goddard making a meta commentary on how stale all the typical horror movie formulas had become. P.S. - 'Bad Times at the El Royale' is a really good flick as well.
Drew Goddard also created and plotted S1 of DAREDEVIL. For that alone, he sits in a special place - a GOOD PLACE, if you will - in my hall of storytelling luminaries.
I’m with you, Angela, torture horror is not my bag, but comedy horror totally is!!! Love movies like Tucker & Dale or the Evil Dead!!! Try American Werewolf in London! It’s also got a crazy sense of humor. Love your show!!!
Actor Fran Kranz who played Marty had gotten seriously jacked for a previous role. When Joss Whedon cast him he was like "Uh, we're going to have to cover you up with some baggy clothing. Because you're playing a lazy stoner, but you look like a Navy Seal."
Bradley Whitford with a machine gun had to have the director tell him that instead of the best day of his life he should play it as the worst. (Director's commentary from DVD)
My favorite monster was the unicorn. Especially since it is really true to a lot of the mythology surrounded them. People think they are cute now but they were considered hostile and dangerous.
Clearly she had not seen Love and Thunder before the Williams instead of Hemsworth eye candy remark. And she didn't notice the handprint on the camper just as they were driving away from the cabin (prior to Hemsworth eating it with the wall).
I love this movie and am very happy you reacted to it. Love watching your reactions, they honestly give me something to look forward to while I have been out of work due to surgery these last few months. But I loved every scene with Marty. He gave the best laughs. I love how they paid homage to all the horror tropes, and the saw guy you mentioned was there version of pinhead from hellraiser. Pinhead has pins and a box. Saw guy has saw and an orb. One of the best horror comedies out there. Just like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. Again I love your reactions darlin. I can't wait until you get to Event Horizon and Malignant. And the Hellraiser series. The new one is amazing and pays so much respect to the original Hellraiser movies.
I'm really glad you watched this. Think it's one of the most creative and entertaining horror movies ever made. The comedy and creatures are both favorites of mine.
"Whose brain comes up with a story like this?" Somebody stoned 😁 Weed was the hero of the story. "That stuff he's been smoking immunized him to all our shit!"
Because this is a Whedon movie, many people accept as canon that this movie is the reason people left Earth at the beginning of Firefly. Also, that this group was maybe part of the Watchers from BTVS who failed to save the world.
Each of the monsters at the end are a reference to horror movie monsters. Chainsaw head is a reference to Pinhead. The Japanese ghost is a reference to The Ring and The Grudge/Ju-on movies. The Clown is Pennywise. The merman is the Creature From the Black Lagoon. There is a theory that Marty is the real virgin in the story.
Horror fans are the gods- they only want a formula story, with little variation from what they've seen before a hundred times... It's a person satire. Brilliant movie.
We were doomed from the start, none of the Collage Kids fit the stereo type they were supposed to be. The virgin was sleeping with the collage professor, the jock was the nerd, etc. and the best part was they couldn’t find where the weed stash was being kept. I just wish the gas station had the 5lb of Pickled Eggs from Tucker and Dale.
I love your laugh, it’s so addictive. I love this movie, I’m new to your channel and I can’t wait to see what else you’ve reacted to on your channel. You’re awesome. Happy Halloween!
I always thought it would have been a good twist if the stoner guy ended up being a virgin, while the girl ended up being the fool so the werewolf killing her would have saved the day... but ending the world works too, haha 😅 This movie is both subversive and cathartic, which I think is key for this type of movie. Do the bait and switch, but make the switch just as if not more satisfying than the bait. Great reaction!! 👍
Hilarious. "I'm a fan!" said with a grimace of horror 😂 Also, it's so, so worth going frame by frame in the monster puzzle, and during the massacre. So many demented, creative minds on display (literally!) in every corner of the screen.
I love this movie so hard (and I _hate_ horror films). It lets you stay confused for soooo loooong instead of expositing it all early on. It's super clever. And we get an unhappy ending. Just fantastic. The only thing I struggle with with this film is how to recommend it to people. "Is it a horror movie?" "Kind of...?" Always fun to watch someone watch it for the first time. 🙂
One detail I personally love, is how "We work with what we have" works in execution. Each of the sacrifices is miscast BY the Sacrificers. "The Whore" is the one in a committed relationship, but is the only one to have sex "on screen"( when they get to the Cabin) and is immediately killed for it. "The Jock" is shown being intelligent enough to reccomend a book that will be intriguing and not boring. "The Nerd" is shown being less studious than the Jock, but he's forced into the mold.
"The Virgin" is coming off of an affair with one of her professors. And "The Fool" is actually the one to figure everything out, while accidentally becoming The Hero. We are not who we are indeed, Marty.
Movies like this should really be celebrated. I don't mean the violence and stuff but unique. creative, well executed ideas that simultaneously subvert expectations while also just having fun.
Yes!!! It’s so unexpected and unique!
Yeah, it’s such a shame that the film industry keeps rehashing the same old roided up adults in Halloween outfits movie.
@@mr_k4tz Indeed. They often fail to even come close to the movies they copy. I've had a (not-serious-but-humorous) theory since the early 2000's that a virus hit Hollywood around the start of the new millennium (the real Y2K bug?) that destroyed the creativity of most writers and creators, forcing them to make remakes, prequels, sequels or "reimagining's". Movie makers are also so lazy these days. They use way too much CGI, making things look fake or unconvincing. Sure, sometimes it looks pretty good but even the best CGI can't compare to the pure practical effects like those used in 1982's The Thing.
This movie is great because it subverts so many specific expectations and tropes, while still having a functional plot and structure... and likable characters.
Subversion done right!!
Yep. That's Joss Whedon for ya. ^^
What I love about this film is that it can pretty much explain almost every horror movie that's happened in existence 😆
Including "the cube". That was so satisfying
Also including Jaws.
"Aw, ya'll are fuuuuucked" and then that gleeful giggle... PRICELESS!!! 🤣🤣🤣
I love the opening of this movie, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard wanted people to think they sat down in the wrong movie theater.
The "ancient ones" are us, the audience. All the folks in the control rooms are the production crew, making the movie. They have to placate the "ancient ones", or else the franchise ends.
They actually did make a working travel mug/giant bong for the film. They missed a huge money-making opportunity by not marketing them. 😁
My God, they would make millions with the travel mug/giant bong!
Correct! And, took my thunder to post it.
One you missed is Sigourney's character; the producer. The entire "phone call" to the "crew" was a "studio interference" nod.
Then you had the Harbinger of Doom at the gas station, a nod to movies like Friday the 13th with the "you're going to die" character. The list of monsters that can be used in any horror movie. The force field was the way to show why the characters didn't just leave. Other tropes given a reason; mist to push the sex, the hair die to make her more stupid, the shock to drop the weapon, etc. The line, "we're not the only people watching", a nod to the audience wanting to watch sex scenes. The different regions doing the same thing, with only one of them needing to succeed, a nod to if the audience gets one good horror flick a year they are placated.
The ending is up in the air. The cast being difficult during a movie shoot that can derail the entire process and lead to the audience (ancient ones) rising up in anger? That's my guess.
Yeah. I'd call it a Meta-Commentary than a Comedy.
@Harv72b All of that was so lost on me! Now knowing that I’ll definitely see this movie differently the next time I watch.
@@funnylilgalreacts
Cabin in the Woods is one of those movies that is totally re-watchable. It went unreleased until after Hemsworth was a star, then to bank on that, the studio released the movie.
Fun fact: The costume designer, Shawna Trpcic, was initially only supposed to design just one villain, but at the last minute had to design ALL of those you see. And she f'ing nailed it.
She also designed Firefly before this and The Mandalorian / Boba Fest / Ahsoka after. She's a rock star!
And may she rest in peace, gone too young.
@@catserver8577 So say we all. I just left her funeral half an hour ago, and good gods did Shawna bring so much joy to SO many people. Knowing her changed my world. I miss her so much.
@@Fanporium So sorry for your mourning. We can only hope she is at rest or at least is enjoying The Great Unknown.
The actor who plays the stoner guy is amazing in Dollhouse. Dollhouse is an amazing concept and is a Joss Whedon show.
Hearing, "Extend your bong!" just made things even better.
Fun fact, the actor that plays Marty was totally muscled out during the filming of this. Hence why he was always wearing a lot of layers and why he didn't go swimming during the lake scene
25:30 - "Where the hell did he come from?"
When they fled the cabin in the camper, the movie focused on a muddy handprint on the door setting up a Buckner hiding in the camper.
I love how this film doles out information to the audience a little at a time. Perfectly paced. Worth a rewatch for how surgically they reveal things.
I think the reveal of the invisible shield, spoiled the death of Curt slightly. You could see his death coming from a mile away. But I can't think of a good way of doing this differently, without making the shield something that came out of nowhere otherwise. Maybe showing the technology in a different place, so the use of it at the gorge is more of an surprise?
But otherwise, I'm with you.
@@Deckaio yeah, that could have been done more subtly
its either out of no where or to easily foreshadowed, so they just made it campy...
@@Deckaio I hate it. It feels like a test audience adjustment, like they had to put that in there because people responded poorly to the original reveal. And I can see the argument for doing it but it does feel like a spoiler that sucks the life out of the whole attempted escape sequence.
They just shouldn't have had the bird fly into the wall, giving it away.
Two way mirror:
He takes a second look at her taking her top off: Look of disgust at the perv.
Roles are reversed: All smiles and thirst.
🤣
Turn about is fair play… 😉
@@funnylilgalreacts Hypocrasy, is a word that starts with "H".....
@@KaiHouston-m6j The difference is knowledge & permission. She had no idea. He knew the window was still uncovered when he gave her the room, knew she might still be there looking, and he stood right in front of it undressing, inviting her to watch.
@@KaiHouston-m6j You got the H part of the spelling correct at least, but I think you meant "hypocrisy".
@@MsOpportunity68 Hypocussy?
I love how this movie is not just an amazing parody of the genre, but is in fact also one of the better examples of a horror. Because it actually takes the time to establish the characters as real individuals and also makes them good and likeable. Just the opposite of how most horror movie "characters" are done.
Could also be a hint how we all are observed and played.😊
This movie... is never what anyone expects. It is both a homage to the horror genre and a total mockery of it. You spend equal time being repulsed but the "monster", pissed at the puppeteers and rooting for the sacrifices... while being completely confused.
Great reaction. I adored watching you, and seeing this movie through fresh eyes.
The actor who plays the gas station attendant is Tim DeZarn. I got to meet him at a convention and he is absolutely one of the sweetest human beings you could possibly meet! It so amazing that he is able to play such a creepy person. This movie is such a rollercoaster, especially the first time you watch it. On rewatching, you pick up on a lot of stuff! Like that the earthquake happens when they think Marty is "killed", and they trigger the machine that shows the sacrifice being met, but the gods know he is still alive and are upset, causing the earthquake. Also, when you said it's creepy about her showing her boobs because people are paying for it, you just described every horror movie. We, the movie going audience, represent the "Old Gods". It's why people like movies that conform to movie tropes.
It's so funny; about a third of the way into the movie I was like 'aww, I would have liked to see some of those other monsters and such'.
And then the system purge.
HA
😂😂 YUP
@@funnylilgalreacts It's great to go back and look at still-frames of the "menagerie" scene of all the monsters in their containers. There are references all over the place from The Shining (the twin girls) to even video games like Left 4 Dead (there's a Boomer).
@@vodengc520
There was supposed to be the video game tie in, thus the monster in the cube. It didn't happen but they kept the scene as is.
This was the mind of Joss Whedon. The man behind Buffy and Angel (and Firefly among others) He co-wrote as well as produced this. That's why Goddard got the director's job.
Eh, that's a bit unfair to Goddard. They both conceived, broke, and wrote this story. I adore all of Whedon's work but Goddard's voice is in this script and its direction (obviously).
Saying it came from the mind of Whedon does Goddard's mind a disservice.
And Fred from Angel is in it. And the geek from Buffy.
@@MikeB12800 Not sure which geek from Buffy you have in mind. Fran Kranz is from Dollhouse.
@@colej.banning2419 The intern was the geek from Buffy. Tom Lenk played Andrew Wells, one of the Trio, who were the Big Bad for Season 6 of Buffy.
@@AngeloBarovierSD
Whedon and Goddard cowrote CITW, but the concept came from Whedon, so I don't think the other commenter's wording was unfair.
It’s a genuinely masterful parody, such a love letter to the things it’s parodying - it makes it much more charming than sneering at every trope, as if they aren’t the bread and butter that makes the horror genre so fun
This movie is such a goldmine for reactions, watching this through you was just as delightful as watching it for the first time.
fun fact: during the press tour, some clueless journalist asked the filmmakers if they were thinking of making a sequel.
They answered with "...Have you seen the movie???"
🤣 they must have skipped that ending 🤣
They could have those OP Japanese girls summon Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra, etc... to take on the God giants. I'd watch that movie! Or have the humans nuke the Gods and the Gods summon the mega monsters as they die.
I love how this movie works on so many different layers. As a straight up horror movie, as a parody of horror tropes, and as a meta-commentary on our bloodlust as viewers.
I loved this film. It was so unexpectedly awesome.
My nieces (ages 13 and 15, at the time) saw the "purge" scene, and when the elevators, "dinged," the 13-year-old threw up her arms and shouted, "Yes!", and the 15-year-old said, "That's awesome!"
One of the most original films ever. Great stuff. Loved your reactions.
I really felt sorry for the pre-med girl. They literally dumbed her down, using blonde dye. That is seriously messed up.
And labelling her the “whore” when she was obviously in a loving and committed relationship, they really were cruel to her.
What upsets you more, the fact that they messed with her brain, or that they dyed her hair? You know it's making fun of the trope, right? Have you ever seen Blazing Saddles? I get the feeling you'd hate it
That they messed up her brain. Not cool.
@@r4pids absolutely agree! Messing with her brain and affecting her choices with things like the libido stimulator and the pheromone mist as well as something so innocent as hair dye which should have just been something fun for her to be able to do with her hair! I get the “dumb blonde” was the thing they were going for but what they did was so sinister!
It's...a...horror....movie. ;)@@bunnyslippers5183
This is one of those movies where you have to do a deeper dive on the trivia behind it. The whole meta concept where the "Elder Gods" are a metaphor for the audience. The way each trinket in the basement had a corresponding monster and lore, whether they were picked up or even seen. So many incredible details that were all in homage to the horror genre.
Mordecai: Don't take this lightly, boy. It wasn't all by your numbers. The Fool nearly derailed the invocation with his insolence. The Ancient Ones see everything. And they will not be... I'm still on speakerphone, aren't I?
Hadley: [everyone laughing hysterically] Oh my God. Mordecai! I can't believe it. It did it again! Mordy? What happens next?
This is very much in the style of Buff/Angel (Joss Whedon) and it features a number of actors that were in Joss Whedon TV shows. The guy with the saws in his head and the puzzle sphere was inspired by Pinhead and the puzzle box from Hellraiser (1987) so if you want to see him in action just watch Hellraiser. Warning Hellraiser is incredibly graphic but also a must watch if you are into horror movies. If you have seen The Evil Dead you will probabbly be okay with Hellraiser.
The cabin in this is the same one used in The Evil Dead. They used it in Tucker & Dave vs Evil as well, hence the 'vs Evil' that didn't really seem to be in the movie
But the "Evil" was in the movie, it just turned out to be Chad.
Fun fact: the actor who played the stoner was super jacked when they shot the film, even more than Hemsworth, so they had him wear all those layers and baggy clothes. So technically he was a jock too xD
I knew Joss Whedon's work from Buffy & Angel, so I knew it was going to be top quality, but the caliber of the creatures is just off the charts. I wish in my heart of hearts that they would go back and give at least half of those critters films of their own. The robotic lumberjack, the unicorn, the devilbat? All classics. The scarecrows and masked folk, even the clown have all had movies done throughout the 80s. But after so many monster movies where the creature is almost an afterthought in the budget, its nice to see some really great ghoulies for a change!
It's interesting that the "adults" have the same archetypes. Richard Jenkins the brain, Bradley Whitford, the fool with Sigourney being the final girl dying last.
The guy with the sawblades, Fornicus, Lord of Bondage and Pain (he's in the credits, seriously!) is also my favorite of the nightmares in storage and I too would've liked to see him in action. :D
Yes! Why show him twice but not reveal his “work”
You could just watch the movie inspiration for him.. Hellraiser. Pinhead is great! 😉
Dammit, I always imagined that he was Kevin.
There's a TV show that follows after a movie trilogy called 'The Librarians' about a group that tackles magical threats in modern times. In one episode the think they're facing an evil magical house but it turns out that house *itself* is not evil. Its the houses occupant that's evil and the house is a sort of wish granting entity so its basically a victim as well. They manage to evict coocoo mcCrazy pants and the house sends itself to another dimension so it can't be used for evil again.
I love this movie. My favorite moment is the elevator "ding!"
I was trying to describe this movie to a coworker. I said, "you think you're watching a slasher flick, but you're not and I can't tell you anything else or I'll ruin it." They watched it, loved it, and said that the description was dead on.
I love so much the tropes and the trope reversals. Like, the voice of reason is the stoner...
Although, come to think of it, it actually fits the role they picked for him, the Fool.
I stand by the idea that the reason they failed was they botched assigning the roles so badly.
I like the Meta of this, basically every horror movie you have ever seen, wasn't a movie, it was the footage of one of the sacrifices from around the world to the Elder Gods.
Control-Room Gary yelling at the victorious Japanese girls on the TV screen kills me every time. This movie was an instant classic the day it came out.
Oh, and always take a stoner with you camping and/or adventuring.
Saw it in theaters when it first came out - went with a friend who was also a Buffy/Angel fan, so had been following Drew's stuff. No idea what it was really about, and, like you, absolutely loved it when the elevator doors started opening. Genius.
Happy Halloween!
I became a fan of Drew's after The Good Place and listening to the accompanying podcast. He does really good work!
I remember the theory that this movie was basically 'What happened to Earth?" in the Firefly series.
Oooo, the Earth That Was!
The funny thing about Fran Kranz as the stoner Marty was that he was more jacked than Thor in this movie, which is why he wears such baggy clothes. But you can still tell just looking at Marty in the day scenes. He's also pretty good in You Might Be The Killer, another horror comedy.
I was hoping more people would react to this movie but didn't dream it could be one of my favorite expanse reactors. watching this now, thanks for the entertainment :))
Making slasher stereotypes into a part of the ritual was brilliant move. They never made much sense otherwise.
The scene elevators opening is one of my favourite scenes ever. It’s so sudden and hilarious.
Fun Fact: I saw this in the cinema in Melbourne on release, and when we all emerged from the theatre and checked our phones, we discovered there’d been a minor earthquake which had somehow timed itself with the one in the film… we were none the wiser
Regarding what you mentioned about preferring that you'd not known it was a horror/comedy: I always use this film as a good example of what constitutes "spoiler edge cases." When the film first came out, a lot of people ("evangelists" here) I knew were recommending it to other people ("scaredy cats"). I'd seen it opening night, so I knew what it was about. The scaredy cats always made the same complaint, "I don't like horror movies." But lots of these evangelists for the film would then tell them "it's not really a horror movie." Which, in this case, is a HUGE spoiler. It wouldn't normally be one (i.e. "the Expanse is a sci-fi show"), but in this case, I think it really undermines the experience. Instead of saying that it's a horror/comedy or not really a horror movie, I would just say, "Hey, I get that. I don't like horror movies either. But this is a great film. I know your taste in movies, too. So trust me, you should definitely check this one out as soon as possible. You'll love it."
I swear to goodness this movie is like a fine wine that goes with everything! After watching it, it’s nearly impossible to not imagine an entire facility underneath “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Wrong Turn” controlling their dumb decisions after this one. I still wish the white-masked killers had been summoned though, they seemed interesting. Great vid! It’s always fun to see first reactions lol
It gets even more interesting if you think about the original Evil Dead, but from the perspective that the whole thing was orchestrated by some shadowy, quasi-governmental organization.
You can see Joss Whedon's (Firefly) writing additions/influence so clearly in this film.
The kids are supposed to use their free will but the "puppeteers" made them split up.
This movie is so confusing at first and very hilarious at the same time. I loved you watching -and react to it! Thanks a lot!
I always thought of this movie as a meta-horror movie. It uses all these horror tropes as a way to play with horror movie expectations, where they have set formulas they had to stick to, or else the "ancient ones" arise and destroy the world.
Edit: The "Ancient Ones" being the horror movie audience.
Surprised you didn't notice that Joss Whedon also had a hand in the screenplay 😉
Now we know the reason behind every horror movie. :)
Cabin in the Woods is a metaphor for making horror movies. We are the Old Ones. If we're not entertained we destroy the studio and franchise. The reason the intended outcome was derivative was that people are tired of derivative horror.
This movie is a homage to all the slasher/horror movies and books it uses as a reference, either directly or as easter eggs; The Evil Dead, Friday the 13th, Cube, Ringu, H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythology etc. and easter eggs like Hellraiser, IT, Night of the Living Dead, Alien and so on. I love the mix of horror, comedy and nostalgia that this movie encompass. It reminds me of all the years I spent watching slasher and horror movies (and still do although I find it's hard to find good ones in modern horror these days).
I spotted a few more, too. House on Haunted Hill remake, 13 Ghosts, even the Avengers which is a double Easter Egg.
Circular saw blade head was their version of Pinhead from Hellraiser. The split second you saw of the surgeon and his scalpel and the victim screaming was probably House on Haunted Hill, which is AMAZING and you should watch that.
The remake of it is good IMO. The sequel to the remake was ok.
A good lower budget movie to track down is the DVD cut of Stay Alive. Do not get the VOD version; it was neutered by the studio. REALLY neutered. They used scenes from the original cut to promote the studio release and had cut those scenes. For a low budget flick, was really good (again, IMO). But, you have to get the DVD original cut.
@@mgass1354 I'm speaking of the 1999 version with Geoffrey Rush, which blew my mind at the time.
@@jthomann71
Yes, I know. I like that version (remake) a little better than the Price original. But, really need the uncut version so the gore isn't toned out. I've got both the remake and it's sequel on dvd.
I agree, and the ending as well, was referencing that one (the remake, as you mentioned).
Love this film so much. It's a great double-feature with 'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil'.
I love the fact that even if she had killed Marty, it would have all still gone to hell. They didn't realise that he was the virgin, and by way of sleeping with her teacher, she was the fool.
Oh wow! That would’ve been an amazing big twist though! In an already twisty world…
that defeats the purpose of them having a choice to save the world and choosing against it.... they didnt need a virgin he filled the stoner spot and she was the odd one out that didnt fit any role in the group but they had to "work with what they had"... lots of hidden gems in this movie but thats not one of them
and she would have actually been "the whore", btw - not "the fool".
just sayin
This is one of my absolute favorites! GREAT movie!
"Listen to the stoner!" Words of wisdom.
Comedy horror always has a sweet spot for me. Take a pile of tropes and mash them together in unique ways.
"He's got a husband bulge."
Tucker & Dale was in the top 3 horrors for me, this is another one. I wonder I'd we'll get to the 3rd one? Maybe next year.
I've heard that they made Marty keep his shirt on during the swimming scene because the actor is actually just as ripped as Chris Hemsworth.
Being a big horror fan this feels like a love letter to the genre. It has so many nods to other classics while also setting up an alibi for every bad one for why the protagonists are so dumb. Such a fun movie to rewatch.
The sacrifices weren’t for the world to end, they were trying to satisfy the gods and prevent it
"Cabin fever" comes to my mind when I'm hearing the word "cabin".
Fun little facts. In the beginning, when they were talking about the year the U.S. "blew it," was the year The Faculty came out- a horror movie where none of the students died.
Second, the sacrifices from the other countries were all lore-accurate to those regions. In the US, it is horror movie tropes.
I saw this in theaters way back when completely blind and was very confused while watching it but ended up being one of my favorites, especially for its time was super unique
Same. I went to watch it actually a bit upset because a friend of mine suggested it and I thought, ugh some lame horror movie. I came out the theater geeking out about it more than she did. Such a crazy fun movie.
@38:19 "Who's brain comes up with something like this?" That would be Joss Whedon!!! He's a genius. I recommend watching everything this man has made, starting with Buffy the Vampire Slayer the tvseries!!
You mention wishing you didn't know it was a horror/comedy stepping in. The brilliant thing was that when it was released they marketed it as a straight up horror and some people who bought tickets thought they walked into the wrong theater when it opened up with the office scene. In a highly rare case of respect from the masses, those who saw it, critics alike, didn't spoil the 'twist' when recommending it to others. It wasn't until it hit DVD where people started opening up about its meta humor and began discussing the correlation between the 'old gods' and the rabid movie goers who came to see the movie that it started getting labelled more accurately as a horror/comedy it was since the cat was pretty much out of the bag at that point.
I sure hope that the blood shooting out of the merman's blowhole was supposed to be funny, because I distinctly remember that when I first saw this movie it made me & everyone else in the theatre laugh like crazy... Everyone was already laughing at the fact that he was getting killed by a merman, and the blowhole was the cherry on top that made the theatre explode in laughter.
Great movie. The perfect blend of dark humor and terror encompassing just about every horror trope and creature imaginable, ripped right from the pages of modern day scary movie scripts. And the only one who saw through it all was the stoner. Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard really outdid themselves on this. Incidentally.... The bong/mug was $5000 for the props department to make, and it was fully functional as both. :)
Also.... If you didn't already figure it out..... "The ancient ones" represent the audience.... Us..... Who have to be pleased by all the death in your typical scary movie. Well, at least everyone but the "virgin"/"final girl". The whole thing was Whedon and Goddard making a meta commentary on how stale all the typical horror movie formulas had become.
P.S. - 'Bad Times at the El Royale' is a really good flick as well.
Drew Goddard also created and plotted S1 of DAREDEVIL. For that alone, he sits in a special place - a GOOD PLACE, if you will - in my hall of storytelling luminaries.
I’m with you, Angela, torture horror is not my bag, but comedy horror totally is!!! Love movies like Tucker & Dale or the Evil Dead!!! Try American Werewolf in London! It’s also got a crazy sense of humor. Love your show!!!
Actor Fran Kranz who played Marty had gotten seriously jacked for a previous role. When Joss Whedon cast him he was like "Uh, we're going to have to cover you up with some baggy clothing. Because you're playing a lazy stoner, but you look like a Navy Seal."
Lol, keep thinking she’s saying “Kevin” in the Woods.
I’m so nasal 🥴🥴
Bradley Whitford with a machine gun had to have the director tell him that instead of the best day of his life he should play it as the worst. (Director's commentary from DVD)
You do do movies :) Had to check! 'Extend your bong!', that's going into my lexicon of phrases going forward 🤣🤣🤣
My favorite monster was the unicorn. Especially since it is really true to a lot of the mythology surrounded them. People think they are cute now but they were considered hostile and dangerous.
Clearly she had not seen Love and Thunder before the Williams instead of Hemsworth eye candy remark. And she didn't notice the handprint on the camper just as they were driving away from the cabin (prior to Hemsworth eating it with the wall).
I can appreciate Chris’s physique, but it’s a bit much in Thor
This movie: "Your expectations. You will not need them"
This movie is the true live action Scooby-Doo film!
Fun fact: one of the reasons that Marty is fully clothed at the lake is because Fran Kranz was so ripped and it would have been out of character 😆
I love this movie and am very happy you reacted to it. Love watching your reactions, they honestly give me something to look forward to while I have been out of work due to surgery these last few months.
But I loved every scene with Marty. He gave the best laughs. I love how they paid homage to all the horror tropes, and the saw guy you mentioned was there version of pinhead from hellraiser. Pinhead has pins and a box. Saw guy has saw and an orb. One of the best horror comedies out there. Just like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.
Again I love your reactions darlin. I can't wait until you get to Event Horizon and Malignant. And the Hellraiser series. The new one is amazing and pays so much respect to the original Hellraiser movies.
I'm really glad you watched this. Think it's one of the most creative and entertaining horror movies ever made. The comedy and creatures are both favorites of mine.
"Whose brain comes up with a story like this?"
Somebody stoned 😁
Weed was the hero of the story.
"That stuff he's been smoking immunized him to all our shit!"
It's been a while since I watched this film, but your reaction to it was everything I hoped it'd be. Thank you for letting me laugh with you!
I like how the screen was full of all those monstrous horrors, but what really got to you was the clown.
Because this is a Whedon movie, many people accept as canon that this movie is the reason people left Earth at the beginning of Firefly.
Also, that this group was maybe part of the Watchers from BTVS who failed to save the world.
Each of the monsters at the end are a reference to horror movie monsters. Chainsaw head is a reference to Pinhead. The Japanese ghost is a reference to The Ring and The Grudge/Ju-on movies. The Clown is Pennywise. The merman is the Creature From the Black Lagoon. There is a theory that Marty is the real virgin in the story.
Horror fans are the gods- they only want a formula story, with little variation from what they've seen before a hundred times...
It's a person satire.
Brilliant movie.
Truly an amazing and unique concept! I'm so happy I watched it!
@@funnylilgalreacts Me too- I enjoyed your reaction!
We were doomed from the start, none of the Collage Kids fit the stereo type they were supposed to be. The virgin was sleeping with the collage professor, the jock was the nerd, etc. and the best part was they couldn’t find where the weed stash was being kept. I just wish the gas station had the 5lb of Pickled Eggs from Tucker and Dale.
I love your laugh, it’s so addictive. I love this movie, I’m new to your channel and I can’t wait to see what else you’ve reacted to on your channel. You’re awesome.
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! And welcome to the channel!
This film REALLY needs a sequel. A world ruined by the wrath of gods, but put back into their “box” by a return to the old ways 👌
Haha you just gave me a great excuse to rewatch this gem! Thanks for the reaction 👍
I always thought it would have been a good twist if the stoner guy ended up being a virgin, while the girl ended up being the fool so the werewolf killing her would have saved the day... but ending the world works too, haha 😅
This movie is both subversive and cathartic, which I think is key for this type of movie. Do the bait and switch, but make the switch just as if not more satisfying than the bait.
Great reaction!! 👍
Both Marty and the young scientist girl were in Joss Whedon's series "Dollhouse".
Hilarious. "I'm a fan!" said with a grimace of horror 😂
Also, it's so, so worth going frame by frame in the monster puzzle, and during the massacre. So many demented, creative minds on display (literally!) in every corner of the screen.
Check out the movies Would You Rather(2012), As Above So Below(2014), You’re Next(2011), US(2019), and Ready Or Not(2019).
Created by Joss Whedon... there's a fan theory that this is a prequel to Firefly and The gods are the real reason Earth is uninhabitable in firefly
I love this movie so hard (and I _hate_ horror films). It lets you stay confused for soooo loooong instead of expositing it all early on. It's super clever. And we get an unhappy ending. Just fantastic. The only thing I struggle with with this film is how to recommend it to people. "Is it a horror movie?" "Kind of...?" Always fun to watch someone watch it for the first time. 🙂