Cabin in the Woods

Similar to 28 Days Later, Cabin in the Woods uses certain techniques to build tension for the audience. There is an almost heavy handed use of music and lighting, not to mention foreshadowing as a result of the men in the control room. Further, they used themes that are common to any thriller, which makes the tension that much stronger to anybody who has ever seen a horror film. For example, the tension leading up to the scene where Jules was killed very nearly had me covering my face in anticipation.

Where this film differs from traditional horror films, however, is the control room. There is something very off-putting about the people involved, the people responsible for these kids deaths, sitting around joking, making bets, and so on. It is a somewhat jarring experience to be suddenly pulled out of the story and thrown into another. It seems to draw attention to the fact that it is a movie, one character gaining self awareness about being filmed, which is followed by blood and violence.