MovieChat Forums > The Midnight Meat Train (2008) Discussion > cabin in the woods ripped this off

cabin in the woods ripped this off

posted 12 years ago by zachanscom
10 replies | jump to latest

all they did was change the setting, but the main theme is exactly the same. i can't countenance people who keep raving about how original and imaginative that film is.

[–] Indifferent_Observer 12 years ago

After watching this again I agree, but only the ending. Even though they're totally two different types of films, one somewhat funny, the other goddamned serious and bad ass.

The Midnight meat train is worlds better regardless of what the dim masses say but yeah, I removed my original disagreement because TCITW did steal the whole fundamental plot from this.

Clive Barker will always be better then Joss Whedon

[–] cyril_grey 12 years ago

if they ripped it off they would deny knowing about it. Cabin in the Woods intentionally "homaged" this and many other horror films, that was kinda the point. Horror fans were meanmt to see CitW and spot all the references to other horror films. So it wasn't a "rip off", just kind of a game for the more horror-savvy fans.

[–] cyril_grey 12 years ago

oh, and keep in mind ALL of these films are borrowing from HP Lovecraft...

[–] DarrenDirt 11 years ago

...but CITW was also satirising mindless "don't think outside the box" bureacracy, which eventually encourages laziness and do-the-minimum workplace morale (hence the "everybody else failed, now it's up to the final, American, team" story conclusion).

Plus it twisted on its ear the typical teen-slasher genre.

- - -

Chipping away at a mountain of pop culture trivia,
Darren Dirt.

[–] RebekahHerzberg 12 years ago

I honestly do not think either one of these films have ANYTHING in common. They're completely different so I don't understand what you mean and you didn't give a detailed description as to why you thought that way...

BUT Cabin in the Woods intentionally borrowed the same equation in every horror film to laugh at it and show love towards it. The whole point of the film was to talk about how horror films always follow the same formula. I don't remember MidNight Meat Train doing the same. This is a serious horror film whereas CITW is not. Comparing Joss Whedon to Clive Barker is like comparing apples to oranges. One is completely serious and one is not.

It baffles me that someone totally misunderstood CITW.

[–] misterTL 12 years ago

Rebekah - *** SPOILERS **

The two films don't share the same general narrative, just the same 'twist' ending: that people are being sacrificed to 'gods' of some sort, to keep the peace between the gods and humans.

While I think everyone here understands that CITW was borrowing from/ sending up other horror films/genres leading UP TO the twist (general set-up to the horror, typical horror locale, generic characters all conforming to a typical persona/archetype, generic monsters, generic suspense elements of music, situations, etc.), the twist was what was supposed to be fresh, unique and clever to this film - turning the expected scenario on it's head, with a climax that is completely unexpected.

The bummer is that this fresh ending isn't so fresh. And you can't tell me this was part of the borrowing, since they'd be borrowing from an obscure film that almost no one saw, so viewers wouldn't be able to understand the reference.

[–] Littlebitsofgaming 11 years ago

people are being sacrificed to 'gods' of some sort, to keep the peace between the gods and humans.

Which has happened in 100's of films and stories before this film.
So using that basis as the "rip-off" claim, this film "ripped-off" those previous films/stories then.

What an inane claim.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

[–] Agent_Mothman 11 years ago

You are an idiot. This is all based on Lovecraft's work. That's were Cabin the Woods got the Evil Ancient Gods thing. As for this movie, it is based on a story by Clive Barker, and Barker has always been influenced by Lovecraft. Next time research a little bit before making stupid accusations like "blank copied blank".

"The world is indeed comic, but the joke is on mankind" ~H.P. Lovecraft

[–] Rena_Mahone 9 years ago

Cabin In The Woods, as you said, is not nearly as original as they claim. Its fans are idiotic. Absolutely mediocre movie.

🐺 Boycott movies that involve real animal violence (& their directors) 🐾

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Bitterness is a stinky cologne.

Can't stop the signal.