“No more!” That’s what I have to say when some young filmmaker begins the story of how their horror film is “old school” in the way of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” or the original “Friday the 13th.” According to them, this film will set the record straight on how horror films are supposed to be. It’s a pleasant thought, but then again, most of these films wind up ripping off the films they’re trying to pay homage to with filmmaking skills that pale in comparison to say a Tobe Hooper or Wes Craven back in the day. I would like to say that it’s the thought that counts, but…nuh-uh.
Eli Roth is another of these filmmakers whose first feature, about a group of college kids who find themselves ravaged by a flesh eating disease upon their vacationing at a cabin out in the middle of nowhere, is supposed to pay respect to the horror masters of yesteryear. And now that I’ve seen the film, I’ll be goddamned – THE F*****G GUY GOT IT RIGHT.
Gory, scary, smart and funny, this is definitely one of the best horror films I’ve seen in years. While it plays kinda like “Texas Chainsaw,” it also comes with plenty of its own ingredients, so that this is in no way a rip-off, but a successful tribute of sorts and the meaty “Texas Chainsaw” flavoring is to die for.
“Cabin Fever” will be released to theaters later this year. Once it does, the name Eli Roth will be nestled in the hearts of gorehounds and horror freaks everywhere. This is the real s**t.
