Cabin Fever - The Strangest Decisions

As good as that scene is, if you've just thrown your friend, who has a flesh-eating virus, into a shed to die a lonely death, and then slept with her boyfriend, why are you shaving your legs? Was he like Big Ed, and commented on your legs being too hairy?

It's these strange decisions that make Cabin Fever(2002) a frustrating watch.

Cabin Fever follows a group of teens vacationing in the woods as they come face to face with a deadly, fast-acting, flesh-eating virus.

The atmosphere, of the unfriendly town, is set up well. Not only is everyone in this place a harbinger of doom, but they're also downright hostile to anyone who needs help, for whatever reason. It makes for a self-aware play on a horror trope, and isolates our group nicely.

The fact that the first scene shows exactly who the virus is about also helps build up our anticipation. It's in the water! Every time a character drinks, we know they're doomed. It's actually well-done tension...It does mean that when our characters discover this, there's no real sense of twist, rather, they've caught up to us.

Really, the whole movie is a set up for lots of gore. Lots of blood and plenty of disgusting, skin-peeling scenes. Between that and the high-tension, there's plenty of terror to be found in Cabin Fever.

Unfortunately, I have the same problem with this film as I do with Roth's Hostel: the characters aren't likeable. They're hardly even cliches, they're just a group of willingly oblivious protagonists who constantly make strange choices. Even the most rational of the group, who wants to avoid the diseased man's blood, does so in such an annoying fashion that it's hard to care about any of them. When they all inevitably drop off, its with a shrug and an 'oh well.'

Whilst 'kill the asshole' is a common trope in horror, and particularly good to get the action going, isn't it important that we root for our final girl/boy? Doesn't caring about the characters and being upset when they die add to the tension and fear? Given how unlikable all of Roth's protagonists in Hostel are, perhaps not. And like Hostel, the 'conclusion' that all people are at heart, savages is depressing.

At least Cabin Fever holds a slight sense of humour. The very last twist is at least enjoyable.

Overall, the body-horror/gore aspects of Cabin Fever are what make it worth a watch. (Even if you'll never want to shave your legs again.) But in terms of compelling characters making somewhat smart decisions, you'll have to look elsewhere.