Cabin Fever (2002)

Cabin Fever (2002)

With the release of the sequel having just come out I felt it would be a good time to take a trip down memory lane before reviewing it so let's start with the original Cabin Fever. Any movie that is written and directed by Eli Roth you know is going to have gratuitous violence, gore, and an interesting plot. While filmed in 2002 it felt like a throw back to combination of a late 80's to early 90's slasher film due to the setting with an outbreak film. This is one of Eli's first releases that received actual attention in the horror genre and is what you can thank or blame (depending on your taste) on his continued acquisition of a budget for his films.

The story begins with 5 friends leaving the city for staying at a cabin that they are renting for a nice get away to party at. It's quickly made clear that the town that is closest to the cabin is full of hillbillies and not quite what our group is used to. From the uneducated to a child who bites whoever sits near him - clearly a group of real winners. When they get to the cabin it quickly proves to be exactly what they are hoping for. That is the case at least until one of the friends accidentally shoots a man who is apparently sick. He runs off and promptly puts it out of his mind. The friends go back to relaxing but you know that if he's being introduced here it's only a matter of time before he comes back.

Once the day turns to night the relaxation starts to give way as the get together becomes a party among friends which as you well know in any horror film set on a lake or campground is a sure recipe for disaster. As they are getting comfortable for the night a knock out the door shows the man who was shot earlier show up. It's is clear that his sickness has gotten progressively worse to the point where it has turned serious. They try to offer him help but are convinced he is trying to attack them and end up injuring him trying to get him to go away. He stumbled away and are shown a shot where he falls into a pool of water. We pan over from this pool, through a pipe, and into a glass within the cabin.

With one of the friends infected the rest shut her out and quarentine her. It's quickly showing to spread among others of the friends and when one makes a break for it the townsfolk become aware of the problem. It's a great mix of 80's slasher flick campiness and a good outbreak film. Eli delivers in spades in this one combining humor, horror, and hillbilies - even adding in a governemnt agency that helps to crack down on the outbreak. The sequel as I mentioned just came out and I suggest watching this one before taking a look to get the base ideas on where the film is coming from.