Cabin Fever review: Eli Roth returns to the source material that launched him as he serves as producer on the of remake Cabin Fever.
Travis Z remakes Eli Roth’s 2002 horror debut. Here’s Kat Hughes with her Cabin Fever review.
Cabin Fever review
Eli Roth is a name now synonymous with the horror genre. His dark mind has brought to life Hostel, The Green Inferno and Cabin Fever. It was the latter that made the studios take notice and now fourteen years later Roth has returned to the series. Acting as producer, Roth gave the green light for Travis Zariwny (credited simply as Travis Z for the title) to remake Cabin Fever. That’s right – remake, not create a sequel or prequel. The horror genre already has more than its fair share of remakes, all the slasher classics (Halloween, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street) have come back around, but it’s odd that a film so recent (and already in the English language) has been given the treatment. Also, unlike those slasher classics and films such as Poltergeist, Cabin Fever didn’t garner the biggest box office and doesn’t even seem to quite have the status of cult film. So is the remake worth your time?
Cabin Fever review
The answer is yes, but only if you haven’t seen the original as the story is identical, save for a few very minor details. In case you haven’t seen the 2002 film, the story sees a group of college kids journey to a remote cabin in the woods for a weekend of partying and relaxation. On their way to their accommodation they come by unfriendly locals and later have an odd encounter with a sick looking stranger, after which the group start to succumb to a strange flesh-eating illness. Bonds of friendship are tested as the group have to choose between helping their sick friends and keeping themselves safe, but things aren’t quite what they seem to be.
Devoted fans of the original will find lots to enjoy in the remake, however others will struggle to see what is different. All the memorable scenes from the first version return – the hand job from Hell and the closest leg shave. Second time around they are just as horrible to endure, but still aren’t half as shocking as the first time. It seems that the team has just updated the story to include online gaming and selfies, making it more accessible for the social media generation. Again, great for those who haven’t seen the original, but plays cheaply for those that have.
Cabin Fever is a lather, rinse and repeat remake, the only addition being selfies, gamers and internet withdrawal. It’s almost like Roth panicked that kids of today wouldn’t understand the original so though – ‘quick let’s make it teen relevant again’.
Cabin Fever review
A perfect candidate for a film to watch with a group of your mates, Cabin Fever 2016 could make a great drinking game. Take a shot every time someone says something for the sake of exposition, whenever someone sheds some clothes, each time someone drinks the water, or doesn’t stay away from the infected person etc. The list really could go on. Just in case audiences embrace the new and updated film the creators have set it up well for a sequel, which in all honesty might make a better film.
Don’t worry, if you don’t have time to get to see this version of Cabin Fever because in another twelve years we’re bound to get another one, this time complete with hover boards and flying cars (we’ll have them by then right?).
Cabin Fever (2016) review, by Kat Hughes 2016.
Cabin Fever infects UK cinemas from Friday 13th May 2016.
