Lionsgate has released a theatrical trailer for its upcoming Whedon horror film, The Cabin in the Woods, which has been in post-production for almost two years.
And now we can see why the project took so long. The effects here are far, far beyond a typical horror film, and light-years beyond what Lionsgate typically puts into its productions. Frankly, the trailer itself is somewhat of a surprise, as Lionsgate typically has difficulty putting together a compelling trailer.
Now, I’m usually not one for horror films. I realize they are technically part of the fantasy genres, but I don’t really like being startled in the theater, and most ‘horror’ films are simply poor excuses to ‘scare’ the audience. However, this one looks different, which perhaps we should expect, considering that it originatedwith Joss Whedon, who I consider to be one of the most talented producers of television and film.
Yes, The Cabin in the Woods is formatted like a slasher film, and features many elements of that genre. Still, it also boasts a sci-fi element that seems very interesting, and I expect many of the slasher film tropes to be subverted in this film.
The very brief official synopsis is thus:
Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes The Cabin in the Woods, a mind blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.
Also check out the recently released poster at right, which hints there is a puzzle to solve in the film.
The Cabin in the Woods stars Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison and Fran Kranz as the friends, supported by Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford and Amy Acker as the supposed villains.
The film opens to theaters on April 13, 2012.
