Cabin Fever

Name: Cabin Fever
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: September 12, 2003
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Cerina Vincent, James DeBello, Joey Kern, Jordan Ladd, Rider Strong

2003

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 366 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 366 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: September 12, 2003 | TV-MA

Starring: Cerina Vincent, James DeBello, Joey Kern, Jordan Ladd, Rider Strong

Summary: Based on skin-curdling tales of the real life "flesh eating virus," Cabin Fever blends the elements of classic horror films of the 70's and 80's with modern day medical terror. (Lions Gate Films)

Director: Eli Roth

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 93 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Eric Campos

Gory, scary, smart and funny, this is definitely one of the best horror films I’ve seen in years. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Roth never fully exploits the woods around him, and the homes of the locals are far too middle-class, but because so many clichés are discarded amid the flesh rot, even the patented "Night of the Living Dead" coda feels sharp-edged and genuine. Read full review

Peter Travers

First-time director Eli Roth turns this cheapie into a greatest-hits of horror. It's a blast of good gory fun that just won't quit. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Other than a few witty jokes and a game cast, there's nothing particularly special here. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

A big, dumb, crude, noisy, goose-the-audience bash and proud of it. It's not nearly as unsettling as ''28 Days Later.'' Read full review

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

Hypochondriacs and germ freaks may dig it. Read full review

Ellen Fox

It's just a watery, undeservedly smug update of the low-budget, kids-stranded-in-the-sticks bloodfests of the 1970s and '80s. Read full review

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User Reviews

TedT.

Dec 3, 2005

I love this movie intensely, and no I'm not stupid. My taste ranges from classics to good mainstream movies to avant garde, and I appreciate this movie on many different levels. It's smart, hilarious, and even a bit scary. Eli roth is the only true genius of horror movies working I love this movie intensely, and no I'm not stupid. My taste ranges from classics to good mainstream movies to avant garde, and I appreciate this movie on many different levels. It's smart, hilarious, and even a bit scary. Eli roth is the only true genius of horror movies working today. Rent this movie for "bad movie night" with some friends and you'll be in for a pleasant surprise. Go ahead and buy the DVD to for the hilarious claymation shorts of "The Rotten Fruit" and Eli Roth's commentary track, which is one of the best I've heard. This movie isn't lame or boring or stupid, people just don't understand it.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful

Adam

Apr 8, 2009

This movie is everything Eli Roth set out for it to be. A fun, gross, horror-comedy that is a throwback to the movies of this genre of the 70s' & 80s'.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

TeresaD.

Aug 20, 2006

I really want to see a second one made. I loved the first one and I love Rider Strong. He's an amazing actor and the second movie wouldn't be the same without him.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BryceHoogland

Jul 9, 2012

Cabin Fever is directed by Eli Roth. Is there anything special about this film directing wise? No, because it

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Sep 6, 2020

This film is within the basic teen horror and, despite being unoriginal and overloaded with clichés that we have seen a thousand times in cinema, it works and entertains the public. It even manages to be better than many similar films, and we've seen many! Here, the enemy can be everywhereThis film is within the basic teen horror and, despite being unoriginal and overloaded with clichés that we have seen a thousand times in cinema, it works and entertains the public. It even manages to be better than many similar films, and we've seen many! Here, the enemy can be everywhere and, ultimately it turns out to be isolation itself. In fact, the title of the film indicates that, given that "cabin fever", from the point of view of psychology, is a kind of psychosis that arises in groups of isolated individuals in the same place for too long.

The story is simple: five friends go to a forest hut to enjoy themselves after the end of the school year. However, they find there a very sick man with marked red skin. Frightened and fearing that it would be contagious, they try to drive him away but end up killing him. From there, isolated in the middle of nowhere, fear overwhelms them as, one after another, they begin to show signs of the same disease.

Although the script is rather weak and predictable, tension and suspense are skillfully built and, ultimately, this makes the film effective in its task. Unfortunately, I agree with the opinion of many expert critics who pointed the finger at the director, Eli Roth, and said that he sometimes did not know if he was trying to scare us or make us laugh. In fact, the film is both scary and cynical and there are some scenes, particularly closer to the end, where the film seems to accentuate its sarcastic streak. For me, the final part was very weak and showed that Roth (who is also partly responsible for the script) did not know how to end his story. The climax is predictable and conventional and the way all characters behave prevents us from wanting anything other than to see them die, and quickly.

The cast is sufficiently capable for the characters, which are the usual clichés of teen films and do not require effort from the actors. Rider Strong and James DeBello receive two of the strongest and most interesting characters, but the remaining cast hardly deserves a positive note. Joey Kern is highly irritating with so much hypochondria and individualism; Jordan Ladd and Cerina Vincent are there for being sexy at the sex scenes; Giuseppe Andrews is the stupidest cop I've seen in years. The rest is forgettable and does only what it really needs to do.

Technically, it is a film that has not particularly caught my attention. Cinematography is good and uses forest scenes and filming locations skillfully. The special effects are limited to corpses, blood and signs of illness in the cast's bodies, but they work well and are truly frightening.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnS.

May 3, 2006

I didnt think it was funny or great. The gore was good and it had some nude, those things are all elements horror movies need. However i never get the need to watch it again . The movies so Inspired by other horror movies. Your better off watching those other movies.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DavidD

Jun 8, 2008

Jesus, that was a bad movie! I agree with some of you who said that a lot of it did not make any sense and it was random. I couldn't agree with you more!! How in the world can anyone, especially critics give this pos a good review, i have no idea!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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41	#41 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
65	#65 Most Shared Movie of 2003