The thing that will really boil your noodle when you revisit this film is when you realize that WE, the audience, are the Old Ones. And Sitterson & Hadley are Hollywood. The film is making the statement that, if Hollywood didn’t give us the tropes we crave, we would shut them down.

Ironically, the Secret Organization got the stereotypes entirely wrong and had to force their incorrect view of the sacrifices to fit the roles. They made the Scholar into the Athlete(he was shown to be smart as hell in the intro, giving advice on books) by dumbing him down, then mistook the Athlete for the Scholar(Holden caught the football coming out the window and was also in superb shape). Jules was never the Whore, she was the Fool. She entertained by making a fool of herself and wanted everyone happy. So they dumbed her down with the blonde hair dye to fit the mold. Dana was not the Virgin, as they more than insinuated she was dating a teacher at her college(the corrupted "whore"). Again, they applied their misunderstood ideas of the sacrifices. They "worked with what they had" instead of paying attention beyond surface detail or the work they'd set out to perform. And Marty was the Virgin. So instead of making something new with actual characters that still would've fit the sacrificial stereotypes the organization opted to play it as they'd always done. Much like all the classic horror movies that Cabin is satirizing, the tropes took precedence and in the end, failed.

"Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" 2010 - black comedy horror

I would give anything to see this for the first time again. This is such a great ride.

Genuinely one of the best satires of the last 25 years. Sigourney's character, for example, is simply called "The Director"... as in, the director of this "film" that requires the standard horror movie tropes and cliches and stereotypes in order to keep the Ancient Ones - who are the audience - placated. It's such a brilliant concept, making a great horror movie that's all about how we, as the audience, don't often like horror movies that defy convention, and prefer the cookie cutter stuff that Hollywood churns out. So good, and so damn clever. (I know I'm oversimplifying, but that's the basic gist)

Apparently, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (they worked together previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and on Angel) got together and wrote the screenplay for The Cabin in the Woods in three days.

So, about Marty and him surviving, you guys have the absolute right idea. A common horror trope is that if you don’t see someone die on screen, there is a high probability of them coming back in the movie to “save the day.” This is similar to action movies with villains…if you don’t see them die on screen, they come back to “ruin the day.” When Marty was drug into the grave, they showed blood spit up, but did not show him die. Now, when that happened, notice that the entire ground and facility started shaking? His “death” was the only one in which that happened because the ancient ones (us) knew there was a chance he’d come back to complete that horror trope. It was foreshadowing of him returning later in the movie. It was subtle, but it was intentional and the entire point of the ground shaking…the ancient ones didn’t accept his sacrifice because they knew he was alive, so they rumbled the ground and facility to let them know, but they didn’t catch it…so he was able to come back.

Can't wait until tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Tucker & Dale vs Evil has been mentioned as a follow up. I'll add "Happy Death Day" and "Ready or Not" as a couple of other comedy horror films to add to the list.

I love this film. 😊 I watched it with two of my teenage niece's, years ago. When the elevator scene happened, the youngest of the two threw up her arms and shouted, "Yes!" At the same time, the other declared, "That's awesome!" What a fun, fun film.

This is one of those movies that’s so GOOD I want to recommend it to everyone… and yet, without a sufficient background knowledge of horror films -and all the tropes and history that go with them- then the thrust of the movie is lost on viewers.

It'll be interesting to come back to this in a couple of years after seeing a bunch of the movies this is taking inspiration from to see how much you missed.

I remember going into this movie not knowing to expect at all. 😂 what a good time this was, really trippy too hahah. You should visit the smoke shops and dispensaries here in Las Vegas, lots of different types of bongs 😂 I saw a coffee cup designed one the other day

Was not expecting horror movies from you guys, even a comedy horror. Fantastic reaction and thanks. Its a relatively modern classic, a really great movie.

People in this town drive in a very counterintuitive manner… that’s what I have to say.

The comedy mixed with the drama is so much like Firefly, also a Joss Whedon show. I can't wait until you guys start watching it.

All of the special infected from the Left 4 Dead games were shown in the containment area.

Amazing Movie. Maybe do Tucker & Dale vs. Evil for your next horror comedy.

I'd suggest 'Dog Soldiers' as great low budget British comedy horror action (more action than horror, I'd say similar to Aliens but with Werewolves instead)

I bet you would like Tucker and Dale vs Evil

I’m not a horror movie fan, but this was great.

great reaction, if i may make a suggestion for another really great horror adjacent movie: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

I can't do horror movies, but I did watch this one (through my fingers) when it came out, and I definitely agree the humor and the cutaways to office work helped tone it down. So does watching it via reaction! lol

I knew nothing about the film and after 15 mins was considering turning it off thinking it was another mediocre horror . So i ended up really enjoying it as it surprised me . Fun and interesting movie.

This isn't an intro to horror movie. This is an advanced horror movie. A lot of the stuff in here is more satisfying if you've seen the movies they're referencing. A better intro to horror movie would be Tucker and Dale vs Evil.

"the fool" something about Marty says to me " 4.0 GPA since Kindergarten" lol Stoners, more often than not, the smartest in the room

Most of the film is full of nods to other horror movies. Sigorney Weaver starred in the best sci-fi horror film ever made, "Alien"

Have you reacted to Zombieland?

Maybe give “Cloverfield” a try?

You guys haven't seen Evil Dead.

I love Marty as a character... but me, I'm making that sacrifice. Seems a bit selfish not to.

You think that's bad. Wait til you see the sequel.

"Cleanse them. Cleanse the world of their ignorance and sin. Bathe them in the crimson of... Am I on speakerphone?" As much as I love this movie, I love Tucker And Dale Vs Evil (2010) better. It also lampoons horror movies, while having an important message of not judging a book by its cover and communication is key to avoid conflict. I find it hard to find a moral message in this movie. Fun Fact: The movie's opening was a deliberate attempt by filmmakers Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon to confuse the audience and make them think they walked in to see the wrong movie. High Technology Fact: The thermal coffee mug/bong was a fully functional mug and bong as portrayed in the film, the prototype of which cost $5000 to make. Spartan Workout Fact: During the lake scene, the only student not to jump into the lake is Marty, who remains fully clothed on the dock. This was partially due to Fran Kranz noticeably being in as good, if not better, shape than the other male students. In the commentary for the film, the writers joke that he was "ripped like muscular Jesus" and assert that if Marty were shown being that fit it would ruin the character. This is partly why Marty wears baggier clothes than the other students.

Loving the proper, posh accents.

that guy on the right is cgi right