Eli Roth’s horror-comedy Cabin Fever was a cult classic, and led to sequels and even a remake! So how does the original hold up now?
I’ll be honest, whilst I’ve seen the remake, this was actually my first time watching the original Cabin Fever! And over 20 years later, it definitely still packs a viral punch.
The movie follows a group of college students staying out at a cabin, where one unfortunate event leads to another, and they have to deal with a flesh-eating virus. (That explains the title).
Especially now with the pandemic, it really gives a new perspective to the character’s actions and how they react to the disease running rampant in Cabin Fever.
Whilst this is a “horror-comedy”, I definitely found the film more haunting than anything.
The movie definitely had its humorous moments, but after seeing how people reacted to COVID, the character’s actions aren’t as funny anymore as they aren’t too far-fetched from the truth.
Everything from the writing to the visuals still hold up extremely well in Cabin Fever, it makes me wonder why we ever got a remake. The makeup work was incredibly done, and it’s just another testament to practical effects.
The movie balances shock and gore perfectly, it doesn’t come off as over-the-top and campy, and is well-used- and best of all, it’s gross.
There’s a visceral reaction to the first time you see the character’s skin peeling off, and the disease in action. It hits the right amount of uncomfortable, it makes you want to gag or throw up, but you can’t help but watch.
The movie is also such a fun watch with friends or someone else! It has the perfect amount of keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat scenes, whilst also being fun to talk over and shred apart.
Whilst the writing isn’t anything stellar, it takes a nice spin on the classic group of friends staying at a cabin trope.
Instead of a supernatural book resurrecting the dead, or a masked killer on the loose- it’s just a virus. The cast’s worst enemies are themselves and their paranoia.
In some ways, it actually makes the characters more relatable. The movie’s sound design still holds up well, and the scares feel well deserved.
So, if you’re still wondering if Cabin Fever (2002) is worth your time, you should definitely catch it. Let it cough up blood on you, sneeze on your loved ones, and peel off your skin!
If you’re into horror, you should check out my other movie reviews! The most recent review is for The Conjuring 3.
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