If you’ve seen Cabin in the Woods and enjoyed it, you’ll probably love Bad Times at the El Royale. Both are directed by Drew Goddard, and he uses the same kind of narrative deconstruction technique in each. Cabin in the Woods is a sardonically amusing take on the typical “teens in a creepy cabin the the woods” horror trope, with lots of wackiness and a crazy ending that defies expectations. Bad Times does the same thing, deconstructing the sort of noir Pulp Fiction ensemble, and also pokes fun at the recent Hotel Artemis.
Which leads fans to ask if there may be a sequel to Cabin In The Woods. Discussions with Drew and co-writer/heavy hitter Joss Whedon indicated they have almost zero interest in continuing the tale. If you’ve seen it, you’ll realize that the ending goes straight to crazytown, and any sequel would have an entirely different theme.
(Big Spoiler Ahead —— get off this train now ——-)
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In essence, at the denouement of Cabin in the Woods, the world as we know it ends. This isn’t the first time Joss went for it (remember the finale of Angel?). Any subsequent story would have humanity fighting monsters, demons, and gods. Cabin really has a perfect ending AS IS. It asks a good question — what if? What if we had a movie that ended in mass death and destruction? It leaves us sort of satisfied in a weird way. It’s just a fantastic movie that scares us a little, makes us laugh a lot, and ends with a Big Bad Bang. The End, period. Love it.
This article on Cinema Blend discusses what Joss and Drew think of their minor opus, and how any sequel would simply undercut the message. There’s a suggestion that some spin-off films are possible, using the same timeline and picking up with the experimental cells in other countries. I’d be fine with something like that, if it was handled deftly. But only if. What do you think?
UPDATE — I’m adding a link to some thoughts on Cabin in the Woods; for some reason Escape Room made me think of that classic fun ‘horror’ film. There are similar thematic elements:
Movie Review – Escape Room – Surprisingly Lively, Clever, and Fun
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Co-Creator of RunPee, Chief of Operations, Content Director, and Managing Editor. RunPee Jilly likes galaxy-spanning sci fi, superhero sagas, fantasy films, YA dystopians, action thrillers, chick flicks, and zany comedies, in that order…and possesses an inspiringly small bladder. In fact, that little bladder sparked the creation of RunPee. (Good thing she’s learned to hold it.)
To me, the most unforgettable line in *Cabin In The Woods* is when the guy sees the “merman” and says, “Awww, man” just before he gets munched. Careful what you wish for. 🙂
Totes, in spades. The best gag in the film. I almost used the Mermaid pic as the film’s icon, but it’s a little creepy and gives away too much for first time viewers.
I look forward to what Drew Goddard gives us next.
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