***Official CABIN FEVER Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[Brian Kissinger]

Holy Sweet Hell, is this the discussion thread or the bash thread. No offense to anyone, but just exactly how many posts do we need that simply state "Worst Film Ever?"

That being said, "This is the worst film ever!"



Actually, I kinda dug the film. But here's the odd thing. While watching the film, I kept saying to myself "When's this thing going to get good?" It wasn't until after the film was over, and I thought about it a bit, that I realized it was good all along. Well, not all along. The necessary set-up was uninspired and left you fearing the worst. And I think that's where I went wrong. I think I wrote it off too soon.

This movie really shares my "weird, twisted, abnormal, just-plain-not-right" sense of humor. I still can't believe the scene (affectionately known as the "Fingerbang Miscue") where our "hero" finally gets intimate with his true love. That was so sick and twisted, that I had to applaud. The "Pancake" kid was so wickedly off-center, I couldn't help but laugh just thinking about him. I know people here are going "but what was with that? It made no sense" and that is what I love about it. I know I'll be going around yelling "Pancakes" and trying to bite people for weeks. And I'll be laughing my ass off and everyone will just give me that look.

Also, did anyone check out the "Rotten Fruit" claymation shorts on the disc? Those made me laugh so hard, I damn near wet my pants. "Well, this one can't even fly. I mean, we're fucked."

As a straight "horror" film, does it succeed? Maybe not. However, as an "entertaining" film, I must say I had a good time.

 

[Matt Stone]

Also, did anyone check out the "Rotten Fruit" claymation shorts on the disc? Those made me laugh so hard, I damn near wet my pants. "Well, this one can't even fly. I mean, we're fucked."

I was cracking up too

We can all discount Tino's opinion though, since he didn't like May either

I re-watched CF again this morning, and I still love it. Tino, I find it odd that you bring up CF ripping off 28 Days Later when 28 Days Later rips heavily on Day of the Dead. Personally I like them all. Originality is a good quality, but isn't always required in my mind.

 

[Tino]

Yes, I liked The League, and yes I hated MAY too, and perfectly proud of both opinions!

Matt, ripping off films is O.K if done with style, wit, and freshness (28 Days Later). Cabin Fever had none of these, unfortunately.

Cabin Fever is far from one of the worst films ever made, but along with MAY, easily make my top 10 WORST films of 2003, as I'm sure The League will on others. Matt and Nick; I usually agree with you guys but.....C'mon, how much fun would this place be if we always agreed?

 

[Justin_S]

28 Days Later was also being made around the exact same time as Cabin Fever. Anyways, the DVD is excellent, though I am rather pissed that Lions Gate didn't include the scenes they cut out for no apparent reason. I actually saw an uncut print theatrically, and the cut scenes were sweet.

 

[Nick Sievers]

how much fun would this place be if we always agreed?

Absolutely, I agree there.

"as an "entertaining" film, I must say I had a good time."
Definitely, you summed up my feelings toward the film fairly well only I didn't write it off at any point On the drive home I appreciated the film more, hopefully my DVD will be here tommorow so I can show a few friends. This was also one of the few horror films that showed a good dose of gore, it has been a long time since I slightly winced but the shaving scene in the bathtub did it the sound effects were great.

 

[Malcolm R]

I tried to warn you.

I wasted money seeing this in theaters based on early raves and really would give anything to have my $4 and 90 minutes back.

 

[Brian Kissinger]

really would give anything to have my $4 and 90 minutes back.

Well, did your 4 dollars have any distinguishing marks on them? How would you know they were really your 4 dollars and not actually say...Enrico Palato's 4 dollars? If you can identify them, then I think we might be able to help you there. As for your ninety minutes....well I've been working on a time machine in my basement (don't tell my wife....she just thinks I'm down there looking at porn) but so far I can only go into the future. It works pretty good though, you just sit in it (it's shaped like a big comfy lazy-boy) and just relax, and next thing you know, you're in the future. How far all depends. If my wife comes down and interrupts the process, I might only make it 20-30 minutes ahead. But if she doesn't, I often can make it all the way to the next morning. If I manage to make it backwards in time, I'll be sure to drop you a line.

 

[Matt Stone]

Amen, Tino. I definitely agree with you and Nick about not...uh, agreeing...all the time. (If that makes any sense)

This was also one of the few horror films that showed a good dose of gore, it has been a long time since I slightly winced but the shaving scene in the bathtub did it the sound effects were great.

Indeed. Obviously some of you think this film is crap, regardless, but I did think the film had quite a bit of style, especially in regard to sound effects. Roth falls back on jump scares a few times, but he usually keys in the audience to upcoming horror though the use of ambient noise (flys buzzing, flesh peeling, etc).

It's definitely not the scariest film I've ever seen, and it's definitely not the funniest film I've ever seen...but it is one of the most entertaining films I've seen in years. I had fun watching it the 3 times I saw it in the theater, and I had more fun watching it this afternoon.

To you nay-sayers that can't imagine how this film garnered any buzz...remember, there are some of us enthusiastic fans (Justin, Scott, Nick, and myself...) out there.

 

[Jason_Els]

Cabin Fever is not supposed to be scary. It's a parody of teen slasher/horror/gross-out B-movies with a few thrills thrown in to remind you that horror films should have a few shocks along with the laughs. Roth knew precisely what he was doing. Parodies are rare these days, the last major one (I can recall) being, Airplane!. Cabin Fever is more subtle than that. Lion's Gate's marketing was poorly done, trying to sell it as a serious horror film and thus not preparing the audience for what's in store. When you see more of Roth's films you'll get a clearer view of his wry, mischievous, style.

 

[Tino]

If this film was supposed to be a parody, then it's even more of a failure in my eyes. I don't think laughed once. It was lazy film making, depending on recycled situations, cheap "jump" scares, and some bad makeup effects..yes, I thought they were bad (coming from KNB). And I didn't think it was that gory.

I love horror films, which is one of the reasons why I buy many of them sight unseen. This wasn't a horror film, it was a horrible film (Jeez, that was a bad pun).

BTW, Matt, no offense to Justin and Scott, but I just reread Scott's review and all I can say is Five out of five stars? A classic? I rarely agree with Scott's reviews, but we are definitely on opposite sides of the fence on this one. I can honesty say that I don't agree with one thing he said in his review. Sorry Scott.

Justin is such a rabid horror film fan that I take his raves with a grain of salt. They can't all be "gems", right Justin?

But hey, that's cool if you loved this film. More power to ya.

 

[Lou Sytsma]

Meh. Boring and amateurish - in a bad way ie acting and production values.

Characters performing inexplicable unbelievable behaviour.

Glad this was a renter.

 

[Topher]

Is this the REVIEW thread or the DISCUSSION thread.

 

[Matt Stone]

I believe it's the new Official HTF sponsored bitching thread

BTW Tino, I (on the other hand) agreed with just about everything in Scott's review. So there!

In any event, I'm done rebutting the complaints.

 

[Ross Williams]

This garbage along with "House of the Dead" and "House of 1000 Corpses" are among the worst movies of all time IMHO.

Wow, it's amazing how different opinions are even among horror fans. I'd totally agree that House of the Dead is one of the worst movies ever, just pure shit on every level. But I'd say that House of 1000 Corpses was ok, not that good, but not that bad either. And I absolutely loved Cabin Fever!

The first time it actually managed to creep me out a bit. I wasn't really scared, but the whole disease angle got to me. Plus I was laughing my ass off the whole time.

I really don't get why so many horror fans are turning against this one... when I saw this, I figured it would be universally loved.

 

[Tino]

How is this a "horror" film?

It's about a bunch of stupid kids and a flesh eating virus. IMO, there are no horror elements at all. I guess it all depends on how you define a film as a horror film. I define it as a film with some kind of supernatural element in it designed to produce scares. A "splatter" film, maybe.

How do the rest of you define a "horror" film?

 

[Andy Sheets]

How is this a "horror" film?

It's about a bunch of stupid kids and a flesh eating virus.

Well, the flesh-eating virus is plenty for me. Stuff like that has always creeped the hell out of me

To me, a supernatural element, while very common in horror stories, isn't strictly necessary. The threats in such stories can also be mysterious, like the virus, or something more rooted in science fiction, like the creature in Alien.

 

[Nick Sievers]

I have been asked that before and my answer was a film that primarily uses the elements of the word horror. ie: painful and intense fear, dread, and dismay. I definitely wouldn't say it needs supernatural elements to make it a horror film. Saying it requires something supernatural would mean films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween and yes even May couldn't be considered horror films.

 

[SteveGon]

I may as well jump in and say my piece. Methinks the defenders of Cabin Fever are giving its makers too much credit. The film is junk. Sorry.

Before you bash me, let me just say that I didn't hate it - the film didn't offend me as Underworld did (great premises ruined by uninspired execution annoy the hell out of me). Cabin Fever was touted as another Evil Dead but it doesn't come close. Its failings are numerous: what's up with the dog at the beginning? Why was its chest ripped open? What's up with the other dog? Was it infected or just anti-social? What's up with the kid? Also, the film has no sense of geography - characters wander all over the damn place and still run into one another. There are some poor scene transitions. And so on. Overall, Cabin Fever comes across as an amatuerish fanboy project, made by someone who doesn't know the meaning of the word restraint (and I'm not talking about the gore).

For me, it's one of those "whatever" movies. Bleah.

 

[SteveGon]

...well I've been working on a time machine in my basement...

Great! Can you take me back in time to before I rented this stinker?

 

[Tino]

Aww man, don't tell me you liked MAY too Nick! Ugh!

I'll accept your definition of a horror film, although I still think it depends on the individual film of course.