Cabin Fever 2016 (2016)
Directed by: Travis Zariwny
Written by: Eli Roth, Randy Pearlstein
Starring: Dustin Ingram, Gage Golightly, Matthew Daddario, Nadine Crocker, Samuel Davis
Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why……..Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why……………………….Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why……………………….Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….Why…………Why……Why…..Why…….
Why…………Why……Why…..Why?????????????????????
Do I really need to review this film? I mean I could easily look back into our out back catalogue of HCF Reviews, pull the old review of the original Cabin Fever film and just copy and paste….lazy? Yes!, but not as lazy and redundant as this monstrosity of a film making decision that will baffle all those who watch.
I was even tempted to just do a review in the style of Jack Torrance, but instead of “All work and no play…..” with a simple one word of “why” like above, finishing off with the star rating at the bottom, but I did not want a bollocking off my boss who has been waiting for this review for a while.
So why the disbelief from this HCF Critic? Its simple, I just did not get what I was watching. Seriously, it was one of those rare films where I shook my head and questioned the way the film world is going! Its not as if Cabin Fever Mk II is a bad film, it looks glorious, there are some great angle shots by director Travis Z who goes for the throat with a more determined tale of horror than the original’s kind of campish overtones and it could have worked, if they just bothered to inject some originality into the fray.
By using the same script from its 2002 original and being a virtual shot for shot remake (minor a few tweaks) then most horror fans will agree and say what really is the point of this film being in existence. The best remakes are those who take the source material and offer something fresh and new to the tale, while keeping to what we loved in the first place. That is why Snyder’s Dawn Of The Dead is well loved and Cronenberg’s The Fly is considered a classic. Most remakes fail because their forget their roots (either become to dark or too clever) but also because some films are just impossible to remake.
The worst thing is, Cabin Fever despite it introducing Eli Roth to the horror genre, is not even a film you would consider a masterpiece. Yes it has gained a cult following, but its not up there in the ranks of Halloween or Nightmare On Elm Street, two franchises that I should mention, never really needed the remake treatment, so there is some sense of an attempt at another stab at this flesh eating lark. But again, why??? I mean why?? then just use the blueprint to an original that obviously needed improvement.
Anyone who has seen the original will know what to expect and its a very odd experience! The only added material to the script is the use of Social Media, but surely that can’t be the excuse for this to be remade. I doubt very much someone watching the original has ever thought, “you know what is missing from this film?, Facebook!…I hope they remake it?”
Gender swapping the roles does not make your attempt original either, especially as everything else around you stays the same. This is the worst example of a remake I have ever seen. Not since Gus Van Sant’s attempt at Psycho have I found a film so redundant and screaming of a Cash Grab, but even then you could forgive Sant as he was remaking a film that was 38 years old. Here we have a the minor difference of 14 years, so again…..why? What is the point.
If you have seen the original Cabin Fever, then you know the plot, the weird kid at the store, the razor scene, the sex scenes and how this will pan out in its entirety and if you haven’t seen it, then you have a choice of two films that are so identical but ironically both need an improvement.
In an era where remakes are becoming the norm, Cabin Fever 2016 is the worst example of its kind and brings nothing to the table for fans who will only have one thing to thank this film for, as it now replaces Cabin Fever 2 as the worst entry in this now…please put to bed……franchise…..
Rating: 
It’s funny, I just watched this film last night and it was a complete waste of my time. It’s nothing but a carbon copy of the original with nothing new to offer. So, of course, Eli Roth said he blown away by the remake. Mate, just go back to collecting your 88 Films blu-rays and praising films like Devil’s Due. Having said that, though, I also watched The Green Inferno last night and that was pretty good (after a very slow and boring start) and was a great homage to older cannibal films like Cannibal Holocaust.