In 2002, the film Cabin Fever launched the career of Eli Roth. It was critically acclaimed by many elite horror directors and personalities as being one of the most disturbing films of the decade. Little did they know that only a few years later, horror films would try to topple one another in the gore and shock factor, with more grotesque imagery and head-spinning gore. This, of course, would become known as torture porn. I tend to disagree that Cabin Fever is part of that group of films, despite what others may say.
I was not a big fan of Cabin Fever, but did appreciate where it was coming from. Having worked in the food industry for many years, one of the most important things is good hygiene and hand washing. People don’t realize how easily germs spread. The human body fights many of them off each day it only takes one strain to cause real problems. Thus, with the success of the first Cabin Fever, it was inevitable that a sequel would be made. Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever starts where the first ended.
The story takes place right outside the stream into which the last surviving camper in the first film slid as the flesh-eating virus started to consume his body. Unfortunately for the next set of victims, the virus has made its way into the supply of a water bottling company. Cases of bottled water make their way to a local high school, where is is sold and used by the students and the staff. It does not help that the school’s prom is approaching and that extra water has been ordered. The virus also seems to have invaded the school’s plumbing, and the students and staff are exhibiting symptoms even before the prom begins, but the prom is where the virus starts to show its force. People start to die, the virus spreads and mass chaos ensues. A government task force dispatched to stop the virus locks down the school and shoots anyone who attempts to escape. There are only two students who have yet to contract the virus, and they are trying to escape before either the virus or the task force gets them.
This film was made a few years ago and went through a lot of trouble with both its production and in its creative department. Ti West, the director, recently known for his critically-acclaimed film House of the Devil, was said to want his name removed from the film, because his vision was being stripped down by the film’s many producers. Because he was not part of the directors’ union, his name was not removed, but he claims that this is not the way he envisioned the film. While I think the film is nothing special, it is well written and has some elements reminiscent of horror films from the seventies and eighties. However, in terms of originality, the film borrows from other films such as Carrie, Evil Dead, and Prom Night. The script, although full of tons of useless gore, is not half bad, and as a whole, the film is funny and entertaining.
One of the best things this film has going for it is its art direction. I really like the whole late seventies/early eighties feel. Everything from the sets to the props and even the great costume design really brings you back to that era. Whether the film means to do that or not, I’m not sure, but it works out well and makes the film that much more entertaining. There is a ton of gore, and much of it seems pointless, and perverse. There are many scenes that are not for the faint at heart, including an infected penis, a miscarried a baby and a skinny jock screwing an obese girl in a swimming pool. There is even an uncalled-for scene in which a girl, after giving a blow job to a kid, spits his cum out in the sink on-camera. It is one of those things that is unnecessary and was put in by the producers just for shock value.
The DVD comes with only a few special features, including a behind-the-scenes documentary which includes the cast and producer talking about how gory the film is. I found myself waiting for Ti West to pop onto the screen to give us his opinion of the film, but that never happened. It also has a gore reel which features all the gore-filled scenes, and trailers of other Lion Gates releases.
Overall, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever is fun to watch, but it is tasteless. I enjoyed the direction of the story, but the over-the-top, pointless gore really takes away from it. The film also has no real solid conclusion. The ending of the film is sloppy and does the film no justice whatsoever. I would really like to see what writer/director Ti West would have done with the film, had he had full control of it. Yet, as he mentioned to a friend of mine, “I made three and a half films in the past four years,” and something tells me this film was that half.
If a lot of gore suits you and that all you care about in a horror film, then you’ll love this film. If you need stability in the story to go along with your gore, then like me you might be disappointed with the way the films ends. Sure, it’ comical, horrific and fun, but it lacks in the “being a great horror film” department.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
