Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clever but very bloody deconstruction of horror movies.
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Why Age 17+?
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The Cabin in the Woods
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 69 kid reviews
Kids say that the film offers a unique blend of humor and horror, often using extreme gore for comedic effect, yet its plot can be convoluted and lacks coherence at times. While many viewers appreciate its cleverness and ability to satirize horror tropes, others find the over-the-top violence and sexual content inappropriate for younger audiences, with suggestions for a minimum age of 14 to 16.
- gore factor
- comedic element
- clever satire
- inappropriate content
- target audience
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a group of college kids --including hunky Curt (Chris Hemsworth) -- piles into an RV and heads for a cabin in the woods for a fun, blow-out weekend of swimming, sex, drinking, and smoking pot. At the same time, a couple of scientist/engineer types (Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford) check into a control room and start monitoring the teens. After a while, the teens stumble upon a cellar full of strange objects. The virginal Dana (Kristen Connolly) begins reading from an old diary and apparently awakens a family of zombies. The teens begin to realize that something is amiss, but can they withstand the homicidal zombies long enough to find out?
Is It Any Good?
Veteran writer Joss Whedon and first-time director Drew Goddard deconstruct the horror genre like never before with this film. Their effort isn't unlike Scream or Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, but it's a great deal more spectacular. It begins very similarly to movies like The Evil Dead, Creature, and Shark Night, but before it grows stale, The Cabin in the Woods starts dropping hints that it's no ordinary horror movie. It keeps the mystery up until the final blow-out reel, where it probably gives away a bit too much. But by that time, it has wildly succeeded.
Goddard gets fun performances from the cast, especially Jenkins and Whitford, who chat playfully without disclosing too much vital information. The Cabin in the Woods also makes the most of its cross between horror and humor, between the dark, dank cabin and the white, clinical control room. Where the movie arguably falls short is in its scare factor; it's not particularly frightening, though it is very clever and very entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what point The Cabin in the Woods is making. Is the message purely cynical and sinister, or does it have anything positive to say? Does it help to have seen a lot of horror movies in order to "get" this one?
Could the movie succeed without its extreme violence?
Is The Cabin in the Woods scary? Does it succeed as a horror movie, as well as a commentary on other horror movies?
Are any of these characters admirable in any way? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 13, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : September 18, 2012
- Cast : Bradley Whitford , Chris Hemsworth , Richard Jenkins
- Director : Drew Goddard
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody horror violence and gore, language, drug use and some sexuality/nudity
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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