Skip to Content

Summer Budget Travel Tips from Gadling

cabin fever Tagged Articles at Cinematical

What's Up at the Squads

Filed under: Horror », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Fandom », Lists »



We've some new writers shaking things up now and later at both Sci-Fi (not SyFy) Squad and Horror Squad, so this seemed like as good a time as any to shine a light on a couple of features making the rounds there.

Over on Sci-Fi: Erik updated us on the progress on a fan-made Star Wars re-creation that involved nearly 500 fans each tackling a scene, Peter Hall shared the original short film behind this week's feature-length 9, and Scott made a list of his top 100 sci-fi films of all time in the name of all that is twisting knickers.

Meanwhile, on Horror Squad: yours truly helped fill in the details regarding the shelf-sitting sequel to Cabin Fever, Peter Hall linked us to a free-for-all radio play incarnation of the clever and creepy Pontypool, and Weinberg made a list of his top 100 horror films of all time for the sake of causing ulcers the world over.

Gruesome New Pics From 'Cabin Fever 2'

Filed under: Horror », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Remakes and Sequels », Images »

When we first brought you pics from the set of Cabin Fever 2, it was kind of hard to make out what was going on. We knew some sh*t was going down at a prom, but we were unable to clearly see with our own eyes what sort of madness director Ti West was cooking up for the sequel. As you're probably already aware, the first Cabin Fever featured the directorial debut of Eli Roth. For practically no money (something like $1.5 million), Roth managed to scrape together a pretty decent horror flick; it went on to do good business at the box office, earned Roth a gig helming Hostel and the rest is history. Now, almost four years later, a second Cabin Fever is heading our way -- but this time, Roth handed over the reigns to West and newbie scribe Joshua Malkin.

Like Dread Central before, it appears Fangoria was at the same set visit, on the same day, while they were shooting the same scene. However, Fangoria has some much better images of the action taking place -- pics that include a group of prom patrons sprawled out on the floor, while a bucket full of red stuff is thrown all over them. God only knows what's going on in this scene (the folks from Fangoria aren't allowed to say), but I think it's safe to say no one is getting lucky after this dance. As far as plot goes, we're being told the flesh-eating virus from the first film returns; only this time, it decides to throw on a suit and party it up with a bunch of unsuspecting teens. Says West about the sequel: "Everything is quite gross and pushes the limits as far as they can go at times. It will be interesting to see what people think, because it's nothing like the first." Yum, looks delicious.

First 'Cabin Fever 2' Stills Come to Life

Filed under: Horror », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels », Images »

The splatter-fest started by director Eli Roth and his film Cabin Fever continues for director Ti West in the sequel to the film -- cleverly titled Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever. Matt Bradshaw recently brought us news of the sequel when filming began in North Carolina; we got casting news concerning the appearances of comedian Judah Friedlander, actor-director Larry Fessenden and the surprise return of original cast member Rider Strong, who's character apparently didn't die in the first film. We also got some plot details; the sequel's story concerns the return of the mysterious flesh eating virus as it infects a high school prom. Naturally, during the course of the film, blood, gore and nudity ensue.

Now, thanks to Dread Central, we can add production stills to our small but growing cache of info about Cabin Fever 2. Over at the site they've posted a couple of pictures from their recent visit to the set. Among other things, the pictures show director West covered in gallons of fake blood and a very realistic shot of a poor student's hand being removed to stop the spread of the virus, giving us an indication that this film will not only continue the bloody scenes from Cabin Fever but will up the blood amount. The first Cabin Fever was a pretty cleaver horror movie that proved you don't need a huge budget or big stars. From what I can tell so far, the sequel looks to be shaping up as a worthy successor.

Full Cast List Announced for Cabin Fever 2

Filed under: Horror », Lionsgate Films », Remakes and Sequels »

Just a few days ago Mr. Ryan Stewart informed you that Larry Fessenden and Alexi Wasser had been signed to star in the sequel to Eli Roth's Cabin Fever, but those hard-working lunatics over at Bloody-Disgusting.com have also now unleashed the complete cast list for Ti West's follow-up ... and it it looks exactly like you'd expect from a cult-horror sequel called Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever. In addition to the lovely Ms. Wasser and the multi-hatted Mr. Fessenden, a number of other folks will line up to be devoured by an inevitably icky skin condition, and the list has been made public.

Giuseppe Andrews (he played Deputy Winston in the original Cabin Fever), Mark Borchardt (American Movie, The Tunnel), Judah Friedlander (Feast, Napoleon Dynamite), Rusty Kelley (Dear Pillow, The Cassidy Kids), Marc Senter (The Lost), Noah Segan (Brick, Waterborne) and ... Rider Strong? Wasn't he also in the first Fever? And didn't he die pretty horribly? Director West (who has under his belt The Roost and the SXSW-premiering Trigger Man) is keeping plot details on the down-low, but he promises that the sequel will not be a "re-hash" of the original. But what I'm wondering is ... will this be a theatrical release or a DTV baby? As a big fan of the first flick, I look forward to seeing the sequel either way, obviously -- but this is starting to feel like a "home video premiere" type of project.

Cabin Fever Sequel Cast Falling Into Place

Filed under: Horror », Casting », Fandom »

Listen up, horror fans -- some casting news has been announced for the sequel to Eli Roth's Cabin Fever, which will be directed by Ti West. According to Bloody-disgusting.com, Larry Fessenden, an actor which credits such as Trigger Man, Headspace and The Roost on his resume, will have a small role in the film. Further details are available about his part at Bloody-disgusting, but be prepared to find spoilers if you go there. In other casting news, actress Alexi Wasser has joined the film. Wasser is best known for films such as Art School Confidential and Factory Girl.

For those who still haven't seen the original film and have no idea what the fuss is all about, the first one dealt with a group of college graduates who are stuck in a remote cabin and have to deal with the effects of a flesh-eating virus. Eli Roth has no known involvement in the sequel, but did produce a 2004 documentary called Cabin Fever: Beneath the Skin, in which the cast and crew talked about the making of the film and how the special effects were created. Roth is hard at work on finishing up Hostel: Part II -- to read about all of his other upcoming plans, you can check out Erik's report from this weekend's NYComicCon.

New Director to Roost in Cabin Fever 2

Filed under: Horror », Lionsgate Films », Remakes and Sequels »

About a year ago I saw a rather creative little horror indie at the SXSW Film Festival called The Roost, which was directed by a first-timer named Ti West. It was at the same festival a few years earlier that I met a nut called Eli Roth, who was enthusiastically hawking his debut flick, Cabin Fever. So now it seems that the SXSW connection has joined these two filmmakers together; according to Bloody-Disgusting.com, Mr. West has been tapped by Lionsgate to helm the sequel to Roth's Cabin Fever.

That's pretty much all the news we have to share at this point, but I figured the gorehounds would want to know the skinny ASAP -- especially with it being Halloween season and all. The Roost recently hit DVD (and is certainly worthy of a rental), while Cabin Fever has gone on to become a bona-fide cult favorite among the genre-obsessed. Mr. West is presently finishing up on a project called Trigger Man; Roth is currently wrapping up Hostel Part 2 and beginning to prepare his version of Stephen King's Cell for the silver screen.

More info as it becomes known!

Enough of this "Splat Pack" Stuff Already

Filed under: Classics », Horror », Fandom », Remakes and Sequels »

If there's one thing the media really loves to do, it's lump a bunch of barely-connected people into an ill-fitting group -- and then give that group a clever name. Whether it's The Rat Pack, The Brat Pack or The Splat Pack, I just get irked whenever a new "pack" makes it into the cultural lexicon. Oh, you're not familiar with that last one? Yeah, it's a moniker that's been given to a bunch of "new" horror filmmakers, one that seems to imply that these guys get together every weekend to smoke weed and watch Halloween 2 together.

According to a recent article in Time Magazine, one that seems to approach horror flicks the same way a prissy schoolmarm would approach some inappropriate comic books, the members of "The Splat Pack" are Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel), Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent), Alex Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes), Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects), and James Wan, Leigh Whannell and Darren Lynn Bousman of the Saw trilogy. (Apparently Wolf Creek director Greg McLean was part of the original pack, although he goes unmentioned in the Time article, probably because he hasn't made much money yet.)

But what do these guys have in common, really, other than the fact that they all make horror flicks? I see Americans, Brits, Aussies and a Frenchman in the mix, and while some of the guys are fresh-faced and 20-something, guys like Roth have been toiling away in backstage anonymity for years. Plus, c'mon, Rob Zombie is 42 years old, so how exactly does he tie in with these kids? And why is it that Neil Marshall never seems to be quoted in these articles? Is he just included because his horror movies are ... GOOD? Apparently the Splat Pack label was created by Alan Jones of Total Film, and I'm sure the guy's an absolute expert on horror flicks -- but labels create limits, exclusions and oversights. And, ultimately, articles like this one, I suppose. (Either way, I bet Jones bangs out a book called The Splat Pack by the end of 2008.)

The UK's Christopher Smith (Creep, Severance) is young and horror-heavy, so why isn't he a member of The Pack? Shouldn't (Dawn of the Dead screenwriter, Slither director) James Gunn be one of the den mothers? Lucky McKee has made only two feature films (May and The Woods), but they're both downright excellent pieces of horror. Why's he not a member? Uwe Boll's done a bunch of horror flicks that could be accurately described as " laden with torture," so why not throw him an invitation? You want a guy who loves the word splat? Try Jake West, the guy who directed Evil Aliens. Plus I read another article a while back in which Jonathan Liebesman (Darkness Falls, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) was considered a member of The SP! Now, if that guy can be considered some sort of "future of horror," I'll eat my hat.

The common themes among the Splat Packers are ... what? They all like horror movies, they don't shy away from intense chills, harsh themes or copious gore, and they're all carbon-based life forms, I guess. But really: Does anyone out there think the work of Eli Roth is even remotely similar to that of Neil Marshall? Does a Rob Zombie flick remind you of what was seen in, say, High Tension? I mean, if you're going to define a term, then define it. And as a big fan of just about all these movies, I just gotta scratch my head when I hear these guys lumped together in one basket.

And what happens when guys like Ryan Schifrin (Abominable), Adam Green (Hatchet), J.T. Petty (S&Man) Scott Glosserman (Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon), Jon Levine (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) and Adam Mason (Broken) start to make their way up the ranks? Will we have the arrival of Splat Pack 2: The New Generation? Back in the late '70s/early '80s, did we need a goofy little heading to remember names like Carpenter, Hooper, Craven, Dante, Landis and Cunningham?

Ultimately, I have no real point. I'd just seen the phrase "Splat Pack" one too many times and felt the need to vent. Opposing viewpoints are welcome, as long as they agree with my own opinions.

New On DVD - Hostel, Duane Hopwood, Mrs. Henderson Presents

Filed under: New Releases », DVD Reviews », New on DVD », Home Entertainment », Columns »



  • Breakfast On Pluto - The Crying Game writer-director Neil Jordan never really does get into why Patrick “Kitten” Braden becomes a transvestite, but he does manage to save his film from being a rote and self-indulgent celebration of uniqueness when he bobs and then weaves a political cry (for Irish independence) into it. The criminally attractive Cillian Murphy plays Kitten a little too much like Mrs. Doubtfire, though he does sustain the character, and an incredible glam-packed soundtrack helps create an energetic sense of time and place.
  • Deep Blue - While not as stunning as the likes of Winged Migration or March Of The Penguins, this BBC-produced nature film sure is pretty to look at. With a calming, minimalist narration by Pierce Brosnan (supplanting Michael Gambon's from the UK release) and a dreamy score by George Fenton, the underwater photography is stunning. The beast-on-beast violence is a bit intense, with one hapless sea lion meeting his end when two orcas play hacky-sack with his mangled corpse (in slow-motion, no less).
 
.