Cabin Fever (2002)

Director:

Eli Roth

Writers:

Eli Roth (written by) and
Randy Pearlstein (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Unsichtbar. Lautlos. Tödlich. (Invisible. Silent. Deadly.)

Plot:

A group of five college graduates rent a cabin in the woods and begin to fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus, which attracts the unwanted attention of the homicidal locals.

Plot Keywords:

Virus | Group Of Five | Flesh Eating Virus | Woods | Vacation

Awards:

5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Rider Strong	...	Paul
Jordan Ladd	...	Karen
James DeBello	...	Bert
Cerina Vincent	...	Marcy
Joey Kern	...	Jeff
Arie Verveen	...	Henry (The Hermit)
Robert Harris	...	Old Man Cadwell
Hal Courtney	...	Tommy
Matthew Helms	...	Dennis
Richard Boone	...	Fenster
Tim Parati	...	Andy
Dalton McGuire	...	Lemonade Boy
Jana Farmer	...	Lemonade Girl
Dante Walker	...	Shemp
Jeff Rendell	...	Fake Shemp
Brandon Johnson	...	Ray Shawn
Charee Cuthrell	...	Cadwell's Crush (as Cherie Rodgers)
Bill Terrell	...	Happy Wednesday Band
Richard Terrell	...	Happy Wednesday Band
Jeff Evans	...	Happy Wednesday Band
Mike Hill	...	Happy Wednesday Band
J.K. Godbold	...	Happy Wednesday Band
Giuseppe Andrews	...	Deputy Winston
Richard Fullerton	...	The Sheriff
Phil Fox	...	Evil Deputy
Gabriel Roth	...	Shooter #1
Donald Lee Hall Jr.	...	Shooter #2
Jeremy A. Metcalf	...	Shooter #3
Christine Renee Ward	...	The Hog Lady (as Christy Ward)
Michael Harding	...	Shotgun Casey
Julie Childress	...	Beautiful Wife
Eli Roth	...	Justin / Grim (as David Kaufbird)
Rock	...	Dr. Mambo
Noah Belson	...	Guitar Man
Doug McDermott	...	Harmonica Man
Matt Cappiello	...	Troubadour
Jessica Masserman	...	Winston's Date
Paige Hunter	...	Underage Girl
Gino Vincent	...	Cerina's Brother
Shiloh Strong	...	Rider's Brother
Darcy Martin	...	Shiloh's Girlfriend (as Darcy Jo Martin)
Jay Aaseng	...	Sir Chug-a-Lot
Matt Schwarz	...	The Bad Influence (as Matthew Schwarz)
Jessica Elder	...	Cat Hat Girl (as Jessica Shortkoff)
Mark Morse	...	Shocked Guy
Heather Simmons	...	Shocked Girl
Dean Masserman	...	Mr. Mom / The Victim
Sam Froelich	...	Doctor #1
Tom Terrell	...	Doctor #2
Anonymous	...	The Bunny Man (as We will never tell)
Evan Astrowsky	...	Helpless Bystander
Mark Schwarz	...	Hospital Attendant
Shana Schwarz	...	Hospital Hottie
Joe Adams	...	Killer
Adam J. Roth	...	The Happy Bald Guy (as Adam Roth)
Jeffrey D. Hoffman	...	The Victim (as Jeff Hoffman)
John Neff	...	The Victim
Nancy Neff	...	The Victim
Michael Reardon	...	The Victim
Glenn Weisberger	...	The Victim
Roy T. Wood	...	The Victim (as Roy Wood)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timothy Matson	...	Evil Deputy #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Eli Roth

Writing credits
Eli Roth		(written by) and
Randy Pearlstein		(written by)
Eli Roth		(story)

Produced by
Evan Astrowsky	....	producer
Sam Froelich	....	producer
Jeffrey D. Hoffman	....	co-executive producer
Susan Jackson	....	executive producer
Lauren Moews	....	producer
Eli Roth	....	producer

Original Music by
Angelo Badalamenti
Nathan Barr

Cinematography by
Scott Kevan

Film Editing by
Ryan Folsey

Casting by
Joe Adams
Mitzi Corrigan
Ayo Davis
Paige Johnson

Production Design by
Franco-Giacomo Carbone

Costume Design by
Paloma Soledad

Makeup Department
Jessica Elder	....	makeup artist
Joan Shay	....	hair department head

Production Management
Claudia Carey	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max Berryhill	....	first assistant director: second unit (as M.C. 'Max' Berryhill)
Max Berryhill	....	second assistant director (as M.C. 'Max' Berryhill)
Susan DeWeese	....	first assistant director
Susan McGuire	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tommy Estridge	....	assistant property master
Richard A. Mazzochi	....	property master
Charles B. Walker	....	assistant set dresser

Sound Department
Pembrooke Andrews	....	sound editor
Brian Best	....	supervising sound editor
Jeffree Bloomer	....	sound mixer
Lance Brown	....	sound re-recording mixer
Timothy A. Carpenter	....	foley mixer
Timothy A. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
William Cawley	....	sound effects editor
Brion Condon	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
David P. Earle	....	sound effects editor
Frederick Howard	....	foley supervisor
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Marc Meyer	....	sound effects editor
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist (as Shelley Smith)
Scott Solan	....	boom operator
Joseph Tsai	....	sound effects editor
Steve Weiss	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Aaron Wilcox	....	facilities management
Aaron Wilcox	....	re-recording projectionist
J. Aloysius Flanagan III	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Chiz Hasegawa	....	coordinator: KNB EFX Group
Garrett Immel	....	key special makeup effects artist and set supervisor
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Scott Patton	....	sculptor
Alan Tuskes	....	special makeup effects crew

Visual Effects by
Steven Emmert	....	optical compositor: THDX
Scott Grossman	....	poster design
Scott Grossman	....	title design
Erick Schiele	....	poster design
Erick Schiele	....	title design
Jan S. Owen	....	visual effects producer: Pacific Title (uncredited)

Stunts
John Copeman	....	stunt coordinator
Dino Muccio	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Robin Acutt	....	gaffer
Casey Alicino	....	key grip
Raymond Benthall	....	set electrician
Nathan Crum	....	camera loader
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera
Bryan G. Haigh	....	second assistant camera
C. David Jones	....	grip
Eric Leach	....	director of photography: second unit
Michael Lowrance	....	electrician
Dominic Mainl	....	first assistant camera
Jeff Miller	....	best boy grip
Gannon Murphy	....	gaffer
Benjamin Root	....	jib operator
Derek E. Tindall	....	best boy electric
David Troutman	....	electrician

Casting Department
Jordan Beswick	....	additional casting
Mitzi Corrigan	....	casting: North Carolina

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Juli Trotter	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jennie Blackwood	....	post-production coordinator
Erica Mireles Folsey	....	assistant editor (as Erica Acevedo)
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Kelly Reese	....	telecine colorist: high definition
Chris Regan	....	color timer

Music Department
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer
Christine H. Luethje	....	music editor
Brian Richards	....	music editor
Mark Skillingberg	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
Paul Feddersen	....	transportation coordinator: Los Angeles
D.J. Hall	....	transportation co-captain
Hugo Ocana	....	driver
Colleen Rea	....	driver: Los Angeles
Lew Strong	....	driver

Other crew
Jennie Blackwood	....	assistant accountant
Peter Block	....	acquisitions executive
Barry L. Caldwell	....	script supervisor
Sam Childs	....	production accountant
Crystal Connell	....	craft service
Andrew Daniel	....	production assistant
Chantelle Grady	....	production secretary
Michael Hayworth	....	production assistant
David Roberson	....	publicity consultant
Pascual Romero	....	promotional consultant
Gabriel Roth	....	documentarian
Barbara Rushworth	....	assistant to producer
Lindsay Vivian	....	production assistant
Mark Garbett	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Angelo Badalamenti	....	very special thanks
Peter Belsito	....	special thanks: consultant
George Folsey Jr.	....	very special thanks
Michael Hassan	....	very special thanks
Rich Hassan	....	very special thanks
David Lynch	....	very special thanks
Jenny McShane	....	thanks
Michael Rosenbaum	....	special thanks
Andy Sawyer	....	very special thanks
Darren Thomas	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Tonic Films
• Down Home Entertainment (as DownHome Entertainment)
• Black Sky Entertainment (presents)
• Deer Path Films (presents)
• Cabin Pictures

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Art Port (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Gelvars (2003) (Kazakhstan) (theatrical)
• Gelvars (2003) (Moldova) (theatrical)
• Gelvars (2003) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Gelvars (2003) (Ukraine) (theatrical)
• Gelvars (2003) (Uzbekistan) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Moonlight Films (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Redbus Film Distribution (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2003) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Eagle Films (2002) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Excesso Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (double feature with "Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever")
• Excesso Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (double feature with "Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever")
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2002) (Romania) (all media)
• Spentzos Film Home Video (200?) (Greece) (VHS)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Veronica (2006) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  mix and master 5.1 and 7.1 DVD/BD
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• FilmFinders  consultant
• Grossman-Schiele Design  title design
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• La-La Land Records  soundtrack album
• North Carolina Film Office  film commission
• NovaStar Digital  sound post-production
• Roberson Public Relations  publicity consultant

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gore, sexuality, language and brief drug use

Runtime:

93 min | 98 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 (self applied) | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Tonic Films

Trivia:

The bed-clothing on the bed Karen falls ill on is mostly white and covered with fir tree stencils. White is a color associated with medical treatment and fir trees are culturally know for the antiseptic properties of their oil. The bed-clothing on the bed Marcy has sex with two different men on has a red, floral design. The color red is often representative of passion and flowers are symbols for sex/sexuality.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the second sex scene, the pace of Marcy's movements changes drastically between alternating shots, despite supposedly being a continuous sequence.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Hermit:Hey, boy. Hey, boy. Hey, boy. Unn? C'mon, boy. Hey. Hey. Hey, fella.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "8x45 - Austria Mystery: Bis in den Tod (#1.6)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Walkin', Workin', Lovin', Laughin'

Enjoyable with reasonable delivery despite the usual teen clichés and an increasingly stupid half hour

Five friends finish their exams at college and decide to relax by taking a break in the woods. They arrive at their rented cabin and begin to party – a party that is broken by a sick man who stumbles into their midst. They try to fend him off but accidentally kill him. With their car wrecked and their mobile phones not working, they try to get help but their plans dramatically change when one of their number starts to show signs of having the same flesh eating virus that the stranger appeared to have.

I remembered this film getting reasonable reviews when it came out so I decided to give it a try on DVD to see for myself. The film opens with a group of teenagers going to a cabin where they encounter 'something' and then slowly turn on one another as the tension mounts up. So far, so genre.

However the film does well to overcome the fact that we can't see (or fight) the assailant and still manages to mount up the tension pretty well for the majority of the film. It is in the last 30 minutes where it goes to pot – where the film opens up the sheer apocalyptic potential the virus has, it chooses to focus on mad deer crashing through windscreen etc and starts to get quite silly. The lack of emotional involvement between the characters means that it is not quite as gripping as it should be – instead they turn on each other really quickly and only once do you feel for them.

The movie borrows heavily from other films (Evil Dead, teen movies, Night Of The Living Dead, Dawn Of The Dead) and in some ways it is not a problem, but in others it is a weakness – for example the climax of the action is obvious because it is clear what it is referencing. Roth does OK as director and generally manages to keep the tension up regardless of the slightly daffy script. Like I say – he loses it a bit in the final 30 minutes and I have mixed feelings about his final scene. He throws in a quite funny joke about perceptions but also tries to mix it with the horror of an impending outbreak around the US. Generally it isn't that great a film but it is one of the better of the 'teen slasher' genre that I think it more or less fits into.

The teen cast are too basic and they are only average – par for the course, if you will. DeBello is OK, Strong is quite enjoyable even if Kern got on my nerves bit. The two female leads are not as well used and a more cynical reviewer may suggest that the film makes lazy use of their naked bodies – again another genre cliché. The support cast are pretty country and do what is expected of them – none of them really do that well and the blame for that should be shared between the cast and the script, which doesn't give them more than cliché to really work with.

Overall I thought this was an OK film. Compared to the genre it is better than some of the other teen horrors that have been around recently although it isn't really that good. The first hour is pretty solid but the final half hour doesn't quite deliver on the potential that had been suggested up till this point. An enjoyable genre picture – nothing more, nothing less.