The Cabin (2018) Movie Review
Written By: FR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Johan Bodell
Writer: Erik Kammerland
Producers: Johan Bodell, Alec Trachtenberg
Date Released: December 4, 2018
Cast:
Christopher Lee Page as Harry
Caitlin Crommett as Rose
Erik Kammerland as Sven
Thomas Hedengran as Thomas
Rating = 1 /5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
A couple (Rose and Harry) driving their way through the countryside are bickering viciously in the car; they obviously know how to push each other’s buttons and do so with abandon. Their relationship is clearly on the skids and they hope a break from the rat race will revitalize it. Of course their destination is the titular cabin. They arrive at the farmhouse only to meet a hostile young man, Sven, who has no desire to assist them in their cabin quest and all but chases them off his land. Using a rowboat, they cross the lake to the cabin, where the bickering escalates to verbal abuse and then physical abuse. Rose is insufferably nasty and it’s difficult to understand why such an apathetic Harry would be willing to try and make it work with her. They soon find themselves stranded and, in the process, meet their psychopath neighbor and tormented them to hell.
Gore Factor
This is not, in any way, shape or form, a slasher, and contains a surprisingly small body count. The beginning of the movie showed an attack to the old guy which gives the viewers chills to start with. In the end, the husband gets beaten up to death. The whole atmosphere gave you the chill of remoteness like anticipating danger to come.
The Grave Review
The Cabin (2018) is an atmospheric and stressful movie, depressing right from the get-go, before the threat is even considered. No one is having fun here, except the audience. The script introduces us to a couple that are constantly fighting and might as well break up. We get a lot of silence leading to contemplative moments and slow-paced scenes once this thing gets going.
The film’s biggest strength is its photography. The image is skillfully handled, and no shot is neglected. There are way too many close-ups and quick cuts, though. The camera just won’t let us breathe. The editing is heavy. This all takes place in the woods, as implied by the title, and involves three people; a couple and the antagonist. All three spend most of the running time sneaking.
It’s a small story, and its only flaw is that it’s easily forgettable. It fails to stand out, but it’s worth watching, nonetheless. The lack of dialogue hinders the narrative. The characters are often by themselves investigating empty rooms and getting freaked out. Good film, good actors, a very simple premise, but, sometimes, that’s all the brain needs.
Christopher Lee Page as Harry and Caitlin Crommet as Rose are both believable in their roles, but unfortunately Rose’s character is not well defined and just an aggressive embodiment of spite. We never know why she is so resentful of Harry and even after the reconciliation she seems constantly annoyed by his very presence and continues to be sullen and monosyllabic.
With all the flaws of the movie, putting these rather decent plot issues aside, this is a fun ride, a nice twist on the usual by showing restraint in the violence and introducing us to the pleasant-looking killer from the beginning, and taking the time to at least know the victims before they are in put in danger.
It doesn’t overstay its welcome, has some gorgeous cinematography and the opening at least affords us a chill or two.
Overall The Cabin is watchable, mostly due to good camera work and direction. With a thoughtful rewrite this could be pretty decent fare.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives The Cabin (2018) one grave out of five graves.
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