The Cabin in the Woods
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:00:01 PM Wikipedia source
The Cabin in the Woods is a 2011 science fiction comedy horror film directed by Drew Goddard in his directorial debut, produced by Joss Whedon, and written by Whedon and Goddard. It stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford. The plot follows a group of college students who retreat to a remote cabin in the woods where they fall victim to a variety of monsters while technicians manipulate events from an underground facility for a global purpose. Goddard and Whedon, who previously worked together on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, wrote the screenplay in three days, describing it as an attempt to "revitalize" the slasher film genre and as a critical satire on torture porn. The special effects, monster costumes, special makeup, and prosthetic makeup for the film were done by AFX Studio. Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, from March to May 2009 on an estimated budget of $30 million. The film was originally slated for release on October 23, 2009, which was later delayed to February 5, 2010, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and United Artists (UA), but was indefinitely shelved due to financial difficulties. In 2011, Lionsgate Films picked up the distribution rights. The film premiered in December 2011 at the Butt-Numb-A-Thon film festival in Austin, Texas and was released in the United States on April 13, 2012, to critical and commercial success. It grossed $66.5 million worldwide, and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its screenplay, tone, and performances.
Infobox
Directed by
Drew Goddard
Written by
Joss WhedonDrew Goddard
Produced by
Joss Whedon
Starring
mw- Kristen Connolly Chris Hemsworth Anna Hutchison Fran Kranz Jesse Williams Richard Jenkins Bradley Whitford
Cinematography
Peter Deming
Edited by
Lisa Lassek
Music by
David Julyan
Productioncompany
Mutant Enemy
Distributed by
Lionsgate
Release dates
December 2011 (2011-12) (Butt-Numb-A-Thon) April 13, 2012 (2012-04-13) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
United States Canada
Language
English
Budget
$30 million
Box office
$69.9 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Bram Stoker Award
Bram Stoker Award
Award
Bram Stoker Award
Date of ceremony
June 2013
Category
Best Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard
Result
Won
British Fantasy Award
British Fantasy Award
Award
British Fantasy Award
Date of ceremony
November 3, 2013
Category
Best Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Joss WhedonDrew Goddard
Result
Won
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Award
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
January 3, 2013
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Drew GoddardJoss Whedon
Result
Runner-up
Best Picture
Best Picture
Award
Best Picture
Date of ceremony
5th place
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chicago Film Critics Association
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
December 17, 2012
Category
Most Promising Filmmaker
Nominee(s)
Drew Goddard
Result
Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society
Detroit Film Critics Society
Award
Detroit Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
December 14, 2012
Category
Best Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Drew GoddardJoss Whedon
Result
Nominated
Empire Awards
Empire Awards
Award
Empire Awards
Date of ceremony
March 24, 2013
Category
Best Horror
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Award
Fangoria Chainsaw Award
Award
Fangoria Chainsaw Award
Date of ceremony
June 13, 2013
Category
Best Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Drew GoddardJoss Whedon
Result
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Date of ceremony
Fran Kranz
Category
Won
Best Wide-Release Film
Best Wide-Release Film
Award
Best Wide-Release Film
Date of ceremony
Won
Best Makeup/Creature FX
Best Makeup/Creature FX
Award
Best Makeup/Creature FX
Date of ceremony
David LeRoy Anderson
Category
Won
Golden Trailer Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
Award
Golden Trailer Awards
Date of ceremony
May 31, 2012
Category
Best Horror TV Spot
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Standee for Feature Film
Best Standee for Feature Film
Award
Best Standee for Feature Film
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Hugo Award
Hugo Award
Award
Hugo Award
Date of ceremony
September 1, 2013
Category
Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form
Nominee(s)
Drew GoddardJoss Whedon
Result
Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle
Kansas City Film Critics Circle
Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
December 16, 2012
Category
Best Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Motion Picture Sound Editors
Motion Picture Sound Editors
Award
Motion Picture Sound Editors
Date of ceremony
February 17, 2013
Category
Best Sound Editing – Music in a Feature Film
Nominee(s)
Clint Bennett (supervising music editor)Tony Lewis (music editor)Julie Pearce (music editor)
Result
Nominated
Online Film Critics Society
Online Film Critics Society
Award
Online Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
December 24, 2012
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Joss WhedonDrew Goddard
Result
Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
December 18, 2012
Category
Overlooked Film of the Year
Nominee(s)
Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society
San Diego Film Critics Society
Award
San Diego Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
December 11, 2012
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Drew GoddardJoss Whedon
Result
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Date of ceremony
June 26, 2013
Category
Best Horror or Thriller Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Writing
Best Writing
Award
Best Writing
Date of ceremony
Drew GoddardJoss Whedon
Category
Nominated
Toronto Film Critics Association
Toronto Film Critics Association
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
December 18, 2012
Category
Best First Feature
Nominee(s)
Drew Goddard
Result
Nominated
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Bram Stoker Award | June 2013 | Best Screenplay | Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard | Won |
| British Fantasy Award | November 3, 2013 | Best Screenplay | Joss WhedonDrew Goddard | Won |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | January 3, 2013 | Best Original Screenplay | Drew GoddardJoss Whedon | Runner-up |
| Best Picture | 5th place | |||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 17, 2012 | Most Promising Filmmaker | Drew Goddard | Nominated |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | December 14, 2012 | Best Screenplay | Drew GoddardJoss Whedon | Nominated |
| Empire Awards | March 24, 2013 | Best Horror | Nominated | |
| Fangoria Chainsaw Award | June 13, 2013 | Best Screenplay | Drew GoddardJoss Whedon | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Fran Kranz | Won | ||
| Best Wide-Release Film | Won | |||
| Best Makeup/Creature FX | David LeRoy Anderson | Won | ||
| Golden Trailer Awards | May 31, 2012 | Best Horror TV Spot | Won | |
| Best Standee for Feature Film | Nominated | |||
| Hugo Award | September 1, 2013 | Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form | Drew GoddardJoss Whedon | Nominated |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle | December 16, 2012 | Best Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film | Won | |
| Motion Picture Sound Editors | February 17, 2013 | Best Sound Editing – Music in a Feature Film | Clint Bennett (supervising music editor)Tony Lewis (music editor)Julie Pearce (music editor) | Nominated |
| Online Film Critics Society | December 24, 2012 | Best Original Screenplay | Joss WhedonDrew Goddard | Nominated |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society | December 18, 2012 | Overlooked Film of the Year | Nominated | |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 11, 2012 | Best Original Screenplay | Drew GoddardJoss Whedon | Nominated |
| Saturn Awards | June 26, 2013 | Best Horror or Thriller Film | Won | |
| Best Writing | Drew GoddardJoss Whedon | Nominated | ||
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 18, 2012 | Best First Feature | Drew Goddard | Nominated |
References
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