Whedonesque : Comments on 18984 : Cabin in the Woods will be "a straight-up, balls-out, really terrifying horror movie".

Heh heh heh.

I so very much hate scary. And yet, I'm still going to see "Cabin the Woods."

Hmm, I think I'm going to have to give it a skip then. I hate horror films. I'm a wuss. I admit it.

Sounds exactly what the world needs right now. A proper old-fashioned horror film to balance out the soulless 'Saws' and 'Hostels' that you bump into every time you turn around. I can't wait.

redders | February 09, 16:02 CET

Maybe he's kidding now as well. Maybe this is misinformation: the sequel?

I don't mind scary horror movies, as long as they're not gory, scary horror movies. Still, I'm not really a fan of the genre, so it'll pretty much just be Joss and Drew that'll have me excited for this, if it does turn out to be straight-up horror.

GVH | February 09, 16:02 CET

Wait a minute, he was kidding ? There's no way he could've made that clear before I destroyed all my other DVDs in preparation ?

Yay, ever since Joss hizzonself described Buffy (accurately IMO) as 'horror-lite' i've wanted to see him do 'horror-heavy', especially since i've faith they won't go for cheap gross-outs, figure the scares'll be earned in a Whedon/Goddard collaboration, kickin' it old skool, yo.

Saje | February 09, 16:04 CET

Hmmm... a Horror Movie that will be "anti-Torture Porn" (Kind of a given, really), and yet really, really scary. Sounds like something to see, even though I'm not a Fan of the genre.

[ edited by TDBrown on 2009-02-09 21:46 ]

TDBrown | February 09, 17:21 CET

Yeah very excited, but there is any other information about the movie beyond Will end alt he horrors movies? Some plot details, sinopsis? Or everyone who knew it died after 7 days?

Brasilian Chaos Man | February 09, 17:38 CET

I think they're deliberately playing their cards close to their chest re: plot etc. Which i'm happy with personally.

Saje | February 09, 17:48 CET

If you mean happy in the sense of going to see what is supposed to be terrifying without a clue a good thing...
I'm scaried right now.

Brasilian Chaos Man | February 09, 18:14 CET

Mmm... my genre of choice, served up by Joss and Drew. And I don't mind the gore, so long as it serves the story ("Alien," "The Descent," etc.). The best horror tales make you care about the characters before the... um, horrible things start happening to them. And I've never cared for characters as much as I have for Joss' creations.

Plus, "Hush." That was not "horror lite."

Tin Ear Tom | February 09, 19:00 CET

Ariel was pretty creepy too. Same for Killed By Death and Helpless.

Simon | February 09, 19:01 CET

*echoes Saje*

Scary is not as scary if it's not a surprise.

Lovin' the Joss-beard, by the way.

korkster | February 09, 19:08 CET

Can't believe he actually had to say he was kidding around...That is just bewildering.

buffywrestling | February 09, 19:35 CET

See we're used to Joss and his ways but other places aren't. So if a hotshot director who has never made horror movies comes into your neck of the woods saying "I will make the greatest movie ever!" then you might not know what to make of it.

Simon | February 09, 19:40 CET

Can't believe he actually had to say he was kidding around...That is just bewildering.

I'm glad FEARnet gave him the chance to make that explicit, and profoundly exasperated that they had to.

But they had to because there were several horror websites out there who had taken those earlier facetious remarks and spun them as "Joss Whedon is over-hyping his film so much it's ridiculous delusions of grandeur" kind of thing.

[ edited by The One True b!X on 2009-02-09 19:43 ]

The One True b!X | February 09, 19:43 CET

Hmmmm: This is a representation of our comments on horror movies, as well as our attempt to do a straight-up, balls-out, really terrifying horror movie.

Sounds to me like it's still planning to be a somewhat "meta" take on the horror movie. That is it's a "straight-up, balls-out" horror movie in addition to being a meditation on the nature of the genre.

snot monster from outer space | February 09, 19:46 CET

Although I am eagerly-anticipating this, I am still hoping Joss's other horror-film-to-be, "Goners," can somehow get out from under the development-hell-chains at Universal and get crackin' again.

J Linc | February 09, 19:49 CET

Sounds to me like it's still planning to be a somewhat "meta" take on the horror movie.

I've always assumed that's what the original "horror movie to end all horror movies, literally" comment in 2007 meant. That it wasn't (as all those horror sites kept saying) self-important marketing hype, but a suggestion of the meta nature of the movie. The "literally", of course, being how people use "literally" to mean "metaphorically" (although, for all we know, it "literally" happens within the story).

Now I'll go see if that paragraph makes any sense once I make coffee and drink a cup.

The One True b!X | February 09, 19:57 CET

At this point, I would settle for having the Goners script leak. But yes, of course an actual film would be better.

Jobo | February 09, 19:57 CET

I've always assumed that's what the original "horror movie to end all horror movies, literally" comment in 2007 meant.

Or, you know, it could be a compilation of all the final scenes of every horror movie ever filmed.

"There...we ended them all." Talk about a film with closure!

snot monster from outer space | February 09, 20:07 CET

Plus, "Hush." That was not "horror lite."

Yes it was :). It was certainly more horror than Buffy usually was (apart from some genre-tropes like vampires and demons, and the occasional episode that dabbled in 'scary', I have a hard time picturing Buffy as "horror lite"), but it was still very much light. Wonderful, amazing and slightly creepy in places, but more of a fairytale cousin to truly scary lose-sleep-at-night horror movies than the actual thing. YMMV.

GVH | February 09, 21:35 CET

Every time the Gentlemen passes by Olivia's window, I lose a little sleep. That's about the scariest thing ever.

redeem147 | February 09, 21:51 CET

I'm a big horror fan and am absolutely looking forward to seeing this film...opening weekend of course.

Yefa | February 09, 22:17 CET

Eh. Buffy compared to today's horror films makes Buffy rank in the PG of scary. I want Joss to REALLY scare me... not me over-think it and analyze it scary.

Bets on the table. Bring it!

korkster | February 09, 22:26 CET

The music from "Hush" creeped me out, let alone the Gentlemen. I can't handle the gore and mindless hack and slash, so hopefully Joss really turns the whole genre on its ear.

And I have to share, my work internet filters blocked the website link with the story because of "Violence". Me=Owned.

Mirit | February 09, 22:30 CET

The only time 'Buffy' ever freaked me out was in 'Conversations with Dead People' when Joyce appeared on the couch behind Dawn for just a moment. But all the rest ('Hush' included) was horror-lite. Horror isn't my favourite genre but I do really enjoy it when it's well done so I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do

Let Down | February 09, 23:10 CET

I watch "Hush" (and don't get me wrong here--it's without question one of the best 44 minutes of television ever made) and I think "oooh, creepy" when I see the Gentlemen, and jump a bit at the classic suddenly-it's-in-the-window moment, but that's about it. When I watched, say, "The Ring," I had trouble sleeping for weeks afterward.

snot monster from outer space | February 09, 23:16 CET

I watched Ringu, and Ju-on and The Grudge. Not scary.

I saw Saw. Clever. Pretty gross. Not particularly scary.

I'm trying to think of something really scary. Someone threatening one of my kids, I guess.

redeem147 | February 09, 23:40 CET

I'm trying to think of something really scary.

All TV becomes reality TV?

zeitgeist | February 09, 23:48 CET

I watched Ringu, and Ju-on and The Grudge. Not scary.

I saw Saw. Clever. Pretty gross. Not particularly scary.

I'm trying to think of something really scary. Someone threatening one of my kids, I guess.

Well, I think we can pretty safely predict that you won't find Cabin in the Woods scary. Unless Joss knows your kids...

ETA: It's fascinating how different people's responses to different types of "horror" are, isn't it? I can't imagine not being scared by The Ring--but move the setting out of the supernatural and I'll never be really terrified by a film. I can get hyped up on the tension of a film like Jaws or Seven, but it won't give me the true heebie-jeebies. And yet I know lots of other people who are exactly the other way round; because the supernatural stuff isn't "real" they find that they can pretty much shake it off.

[ edited by snot monster from outer space on 2009-02-10 00:06 ]

snot monster from outer space | February 10, 00:01 CET

I'm trying to think of something really scary

Watch Exorcist 3, I would say more but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. Also you can't go wrong with Event Horizon. Saw in the cinema with my then girlfriend at the time. We both thought it was just going to be a scifi flick. Boy where we wrong. Also Se7en has its moments of pure scariness as well.

Simon | February 10, 00:04 CET

Well, I think we can pretty safely predict that you won't find Cabin in the Woods scary. Unless Joss knows your kids...

Heh. He could film another intro for the movie. "So you've left your kids at home with a babysitter, eh? Well while you're all enjoying this not scary movie, they're IN one. [evil laugh] Oh yeah, and that makes us mighty!"

hacksaway | February 10, 00:10 CET

Heh. He could film another intro for the movie. "So you've left your kids at home with a babysitter, eh? Well while you're all enjoying this not scary movie, they're IN one. [evil laugh] Oh yeah, and that makes us mighty!"

You know, that's a great set up for a Twilight Zone type story. You go out to see a movie and the movie is of something awful happening to people you love--but it's clearly a real 'movie,' with a story and multiple cuts and takes etc. etc. You could make a nice comment on the whole question of what we'll watch for the sake of "entertainment." Do you stay and watch the film (because it's clearly not 'real') or go and check on your loved ones (because wtf are they doing in the 'movie')...

snot monster from outer space | February 10, 00:16 CET

I liked Se7en. Though I'd figured out what was in the box... I guess that wasn't hard. :)

Cool idea, snot monster. Though my daughter and her friends are film makers - I'd figure they'd made the movie. :)

I'm lying if I'd say I'm not scared of anything. Clowns. Circus movies are very scary.

[ edited by redeem147 on 2009-02-10 00:44 ]

[ edited by redeem147 on 2009-02-10 00:45 ]

redeem147 | February 10, 00:43 CET

All TV becomes reality TV?

Don't. even. joke! *shivers*

I'm lying if I'd say I'm not scared of anything. Clowns. Circus movies are very scary.

I feel the same way. Was it Killer Clowns from Outer Space that horrified me? The one where they put people/kids in body sacks for food? *gulp, tear* That still bothers me. :( Damn clowns.

korkster | February 10, 01:10 CET

This never happens, but I actually had a recurring nightmare from the Buffyverse last night. The dream was a little too weird and dreamlike to really explain properly (involved me...or was it Xander...trying to come up with the name of a "forgotten" character from either Buffy or Angel who probably doesn't really exist, and then having strange, genuinely disturbing but impossible to describe psychedelic, scary feelings.)

Just to keep this on topic, I'll add that I'm pretty sure this is not the subject of "Cabin in the Woods."

Also, I used to know the guys who edited "Killer Klowns" -- I didn't find the movie particularly scary at all...but I do understand why people, especially kids, often find clowns frightening -- something about that make-up just isn't right.

[ edited by bobster on 2009-02-10 01:34 ]

bobster | February 10, 01:31 CET

And yet I know lots of other people who are exactly the other way round

That's me. I can get into the spooky mood of a supernatural movie, but they don't leave me with any lingering chills. Psycho-killer movies (and books), however, get me double-checking the locks.

jcs | February 10, 04:26 CET

Speaking of scary...Amazon is currently pairing up Dr. Horrible with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Awesome.

hacksaway | February 10, 04:37 CET

I don’t believe Gooners should be an horror film cause Joss will end all of it right? And by the name it should have same kids looking for a pirate tresure ;)

It's fascinating how different people's responses to different types of "horror" are, isn't it? I can't imagine not being scared by The Ring--but move the setting out of the supernatural and I'll never be really terrified by a film.
The series “Fear Itself” is being nice, for one not supernatural, creep episode I should recommend In Sickness and in Health

[ edited by Brasilian Chaos Man on 2009-02-10 15:44 ]

Brasilian Chaos Man | February 10, 15:43 CET

And yet I know lots of other people who are exactly the other way round; because the supernatural stuff isn't "real" they find that they can pretty much shake it off.

Yep, this is me too. One of the scariest horror movies from the last 5-10 years for me was 'The Descent'. Not the creatures really (though there were some good creepy and jumpy scares there), more the cave stuff (i'm a bit claustrophobic).

(stuff like 'Ringu' etc. are still scary but I have to almost consciously let myself be scared if that makes sense - it's sort of like entering into the spirit of the thing)

And I know i'm not going to encounter a ghost (or if I do, it, being incorporeal, can't hurt me) or a cursed video tape but a shark isn't totally outside the bounds of possibility (I still jump when Ben Gardner's head pops out of the boat in 'Jaws' and I must've seen it 20 times, brilliant film).

(but then, kidding aside, the idea of being scared of clowns is pretty much baffling to me so it's all horses/courses. What scares you is almost as subjective as what makes you laugh I reckon)

Saje | February 10, 16:04 CET

February 09 2009