Cabin Fever: A Review

3rd November, 2010.

Hmmm …

Have you ever faced the thought of a quiet night in, with nowt to watch on TV … ?

I have, occasionally …

Tonight, I have, in fact.   And I’ve got to admit, I thought I should watch the copy of the 2002 film, Cabin Fever that I’ve had sitting around for a while, now.

Can I be frank?

I think maybe turning off the telly and switching on iTunes* — much as I’m doing now — could’ve been time better spent …

~≈†≈~

Cabin Fever sees a group of youngsters heading for what looks like the wilder parts of the northwestern parts of the USA, on a cabin holiday, before going their separate ways at college.

Things start to go wrong when one of the holiday-makers — Bert, played by James DeBello — almost shoots a diseased local that he mistakes for a rather large squirrel.

Ahem …

~≈†≈~

Now, others have summed up the plot a touch better than I could.

But the important question I think you’d want to know from me?   Is whether I enjoyed it.

The answer’s a resounding no.

Now I know Eli Roth, the writer/director of Cabin Fever has been busily building up a mostly positive reputation for himself, since this, his debut feature.

I can dimly remember Kevin D saying he was fond of the chap’s work, but don’t quote me on that.

For me … ?

Hmmm …

I found Cabin Fever a touch derivative of both Night Of the Living Dead and The Evil Dead: small cabins in the woods, homicidal locals ready to kill and eat anything that isn’t a homicidal local, a group of teens meddling with things they shouldn’t be, et al.

Cabin Fever didn’t impress me.

Now did it especially hold my attentionº: Movie Night Adrian has always point out that there’s only so many story-lines on the planet, and that a movie has to do something really special with the monomyth to catch — and keep — an audience’s attention.

This film didn’t hold mine.

From where I’m sitting, I’m going to suggest you do one thing.

And one thing only.

DON’T waste your money on Cabin Fever.

Cabin Fever
☆☆☆☆

* The 3-disc Best of Brian Ferry and Roxy Music, before you ask.

º  No Country for Old Men did a better job of that, for all I didn’t like it.