Borrowed Clichés: a Formula for Predictability

Read Time:3 Minute, 27 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Cannibal Cabin
–

Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 29m
Director(s): Louisa Warren
Writer(s): Charley McDougall
Cast: Mia Lacostena, Richard Summers-Calvert, Jane Buckle
Where To Watch: available on Digital and On Demand from Lionsgate

RAVING REVIEW: If you've been waiting with bated breath for a genuinely spine-chilling film, brace yourself for a bit of disappointment. CANNIBAL CABIN is a film that attempts to chill you to the bone but ends up as terrifying as a lukewarm cup of tea. This film, sadly, settles comfortably into the realm of predictability rather than pushing the envelope in the horror genre. Here we have an example of a movie in the long line of horror films that try to capitalize on borrowing from the wide breadth of horror genre cliches and mixing them all into one movie.

Our story revolves around a quirky group of five who end up as the uninvited guests of a secluded dwelling on their way to a music festival. Far from being a sanctuary, they’re met with anything but a warm welcome from the locals.

Originally known as "Cannibal Lake," CANNIBAL CABIN journeys back to 2002. It begins with a tale of three expectant mothers planning a peaceful weekend by an idyllic lake. However, the picturesque setting conceals a secret – a derelict junkyard inhabited by predatory creatures with an unsettling craving for human flesh.

The performances by the cast, comprised mainly of lesser-known actors, lack the spark needed to ignite the screen. The characters they play appear shallow, thanks to the script that struggles frequently and uninspiring dialogue. The narrative then leaps forward to the present, bringing us into the lives of Matt (Harvey Almond), Jonah (Matthew Laird), Chris (Richard Summers-Calvert), and Jen (Jodi Hutton), all heading to a music festival, who end up off-course due to Faye's (Mia Lacostena) predictably wrong directions.

Director Louisa Warren, who has previously delivered the likes of THE LEPRECHAUN’S GAME and SCARECROW’S REVENGE, stumbles with CANNIBAL CABIN. The narrative faces more hurdles than progress, bogged down by petty conflicts. Faye ends up guiding the group into a predicament with no apparent escape. Even the seemingly friendly local pub proves to be hostile, intensifying their sense of alienation.

CANNIBAL CABIN, rather than making your pulse race, is more likely to lull you into a state of lethargy. The film trudges along a well-worn path, burdened by predictability. The climax, which should have been a terrifying unveiling of the cannibals, falls flat, merely echoing elements of past horror films.

Examining the film objectively, CANNIBAL CABIN does little to satiate the appetites of horror fans. The appealing cover art teases a thrilling ride that the film fails to deliver, resulting in a screening experience that leaves you underwhelmed. The actual "cabin" in the story, revealed to be an industrial site, adds to the list of issues I have with films like this, from false advertising to the rushed feeling of the entire production. It stands as a sobering example of the outcomes when filmmakers prioritize mass production over quality, resulting in bad movies that dilute the potential of the horror genre.

To summarize, CANNIBAL CABIN could be likened to a never-ending fright show that is sadly bereft of thrills. The film needs more developed characters, a more solidified narrative, and some care put into production quality. Despite the thrilling promise the title suggests, the final product leaves much to be desired. I want to point out that a film doesn’t have to have A-list actors and top-tier CGI to be a “good movie” but has to have a heart.

For more reviews, please visit – https://linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews for more info.

Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of LIONSGATE]