The Cabin in the Woods - B+

Rated R, 95 minutes

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the woods comes the new horror flick "The Cabin in the Woods," written and produced by "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" creator Joss Whedon. Much like Whedon's previous works, this one bends the horror genre to new limits though it almost didn't happen. "Cabin," directed by frequent Whedon collaborator Drew Goddard and shot back in 2009 for MGM Studios, it was delayed by the studio's financial woes and bankruptcy. Crazy, over-the-top and frequently, utterly ludicrous, "Cabin" is much more fun than scary, including a wonky, ridiculously bloody final 20 minutes. When five college students (Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams and Franz Kanz) take a retreat out into the woods, you expect them to find something scary. But there's more than meets the eye as they're all part of a bigger plan that's controlled by a powerful few, including Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor") and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing"). Bloody, entertaining fun, the uneven "The Cabin in the Woods" makes a mockery of horror films with tongue full-in-cheek; the self-irony works best in the first half of the film until its way, way over-the-top (which is saying a lot, even for Whedon) finale. Sure, it's hilariously bloody (and a great cameo from Sigourney Weaver also helps), but it doesn't fit with the rest of the film and seems to come out of nowhere but even with its flaws, "Cabin" should please horror film enthusiasts and Whedon fans in particular. With that in mind, I won't give any of the film's many secrets...but I will say that of the large cast that relative unknown Franz (from another Whedon TV show "Dollhouse"), as the stoner-turned-hero, is the most memorable. "The Cabin in the Woods" is an enjoyable, bloody good time and definitely worth a look.