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Title:
Cabin Fever
Region:
One
Genre:
Horror
Stars:
Rider Strong, Jordan Ladd, James Debello, Cerina Vincent, Joey Kern, Arie Vereen,
and Giuseppe Andrews
Writers:
Eli Roth and Randy Pearlstein
Based
On A Story By: Eli Roth
Director:
Eli Roth
Feature
length: 92 minutes
Extras:
Director’s Shorts: “The Rotten Fruit”, Director’s Commentary
Languages:
English Stereo Sound
Subtitles:
English and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 27
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 2003/UMD Release: 2005
Theatrical
Distributor: Lions Gate Films
Home
Video Distributor: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Eli
Roth’s “Cabin Fever” pays homage to the young filmmaker’s favorite
horror films and it is also a gripping fright tale. Five recent college grads go
on an excursion in the country for a week of fun before focusing on getting jobs
or furthering their education. They rent a cabin in the outskirts of some
backwater country where the locals are a bit peculiar. On the eve of their first
night, a sick hermit accosts them and they panic, literally setting him on fire.
The next morning one of their own begins to develop nausea followed by rashes
and vomiting blood. The four others freak out some more and literally lock her
in a wood shed near the cabin while they seek help, but as one after the other
slowly becomes afflicted by this flesh eating virus, it becomes apparent that
their threats not only come from within, but from the unsympathetic townsfolk
nearby who would just as likely put them down than have a major outbreak on
their hands.
The
killer or monster is not some immortal psychopath or undead spirit, but the very
human emotions that come with fear and panic. Some might find that fact a bit
disappointing, but Roth places just enough irony and even some dark humor to
keep one glued to the screen regardless of whether or not they can guess what
will happen next. It is not the best horror film ever made, but it is an
effective horror film that is genuinely scary and gross at the same time. Roth
labored a long time to get this feature produced independently even after
winning a Student Academy Award® in the mid 1990s while he was studying at NYU.
His perseverance paid off for him and from listening to him on his feature
length Director’s commentary, which is included on the UMD version, this guy
was no slouch. Between working as a Production Assistant on various NYC feature
film shoots, producing a series of animated shorts, and shopping the screenplay
around, Roth’s endurance paid off with the film earning a Saturn Award and
various acclaim from several film festivals and other filmmakers including Award
winning Director Peter Jackson. So in my opinion his success is truly well
earned.
Lions
Gate Home Entertainment’s UMD edition presents the film in a 16 by 9
widescreen (1.78:1) aspect ratio that has been cropped from the film’s
original (2.40:1) theatrical aspect ratio. The film was shot on Super 35mm stock
and has a beautiful look to it at the beginning with the colors of the Autumn
leaves and blue lake that appears in the backdrop of the opening scenes looking
quite vibrant. However as the film progresses and events turn south for the
characters, the colors slowly begin the bleed away until everything appears
somewhat monotone and then dark with only the moonlight and spraying of blood
highlighting select compositions. There are no compression artifacts and
anomalies to speak of. The image quality remains smooth throughout the film. In
fact for a low budget independently produced horror film, “Cabin Fever” has
a polished appearance not normally associated with films like this.
The
English Stereo Soundtrack captures Angelo Badamenti’s haunting score to create
an eerie atmospheric effect that is intensified by the other sound effects and
images of flesh slowly peeling away. English and Spanish Language Subtitles are
encoded onto the DVD as options too. The interactive menus feature full motion
scene selections too.
The
three short humorous animated films entitled “The Rotten Fruit have been
carried over to the UMD version as well with the three films running as one reel
under the episode headings “Battle Of The Bands”, “Snackster”, and
“Room Service.” Additional films can be viewed online at www.therottenfruit.com.
“Cabin
Fever”
is available on UMD for PSP now courtesy of Lions Gate Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2005 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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