Cabin Fever (2016) Review

A remake of the 2002 classic from History of Horror host Eli Roth, ‘Cabin Fever’ from Travis Zariwny is a new adaption of the source material.

Five friends embark on a summer getaway to an idyllic remote cabin to relax and unwind. The film takes place entirely in the beautiful, secluded locale – with the city dwellers isolation emphasised by the hostility of the local townsfolk.

Cabin Fever plays with some familiar horror tropes; such as looking down on the simplistic nature of the country folks having dire repercussions later and sexual activity leading to certain death. But rather than feeling tired, it feels lovingly crafted – with the cliché interspersed with some grisly gore to keep things as fresh as the sores the gang find developing all over their bodies.

The flesh eating sickness begins to develop through the group, starting to literally eat away at them. As survival instincts kick in, loyalties are tested.

Cabin Fever has some truly memorable moments, and I’ve always felt an acute sense of unease shaving my legs since watching that scene.

Whilst this version doesn’t really add anything new to the original, it’s interesting to see new faces interpret the material. The original feels a little grungier, which may be preferable to some, with this version looking a little more polished overall. Ultimately, there’s very little in it and mainly comes down to personal preference, though there’s no denying the story is a good ‘un.

Movie Rating:

Trailer: