How this big, fat, putrid turd of a movie garnered 6 stars (on here at least) will have me scratching my head for a long time. Two best friends and "screenwriters" (Todd and Bruce) are in line to make a fast buck IF they can come up with a BELIEVABLE script...in two weeks. Bruce (who I don't think had an opposable thumb) decides to spend their rent money for a visit to a getaway known as "Shangri- La," both for some R & R AND to get each one invigorated to get their script done. Upon arrival, they meet with other screenwriters and various artists who exchange clichéd ideas, binge drink, and sit around like they've just been hit in the head with a brick. Fun times. Then, as this clichéd mess was destined for, they all start being killed.For ANY of this nonsense to work, it would seem the screenwriter of this movie would have introduced at least ONE character the audience could root for. There is no way above or below that anyone could actually believe this moocher had ever done an actual day's work his entire life. Bruce, the one roommate/screenwriter, is SO obnoxious, SO self-centered, SO non-caring, SO lacking in any kind of social skills, I wanted him to die in the first minute. However, that does not happen, so you have to endure this 40-year old reject-from-a- frat-house-troglodyte. More good times. Todd, Brucie's roommate, was a simp, a wimp, a milk-sop, totally lacked a sac, and had no charisma to him at all. Yet, the writer(s) of this movie gave him a "love scene," which was so awkward, so out- of-character, so painful to watch, I actually fast-forwarded through most of it. It really only involved a kiss, but that scene was so forced and obviously so uncomfortable for him, the kiss came off looking like it was his first kiss EVER.This film lasts 83 minutes, is rated "R" for language, violence, and brief nudity, and can best be summed up by a line said in the film. "The best we can hope for is straight-to-video." Well, at least they got their wish. Oh, and as if you didn't already know, this one is NOT RECOMMENDED.

I found The Cabining very entertaining, although I feel it is more of a murder/comedy than horror/comedy. I believe the interaction between the two male stars carries the movie nicely. They work very well together, with Todd being the ultimate straight man and Bruce the comic relief throughout the story. The remainder of the characters all do an excellent job. The story itself does what good screenplays are supposed to do; i.e., present a basic theme and provide solutions to identified issues, all the while maintaining the audience's attention. I felt the balance between horror/mysterious killings and comedic relief is well proportioned leading to an ending which many viewers may not expect. Bottom line: I am not a big fan of horror, but fully enjoyed the film. It retained my interest throughout.

This movie was pure brilliance! 10 out of 10 for sure! I saw "The Cabining" at the 2014 Dances with Films festival in Los Angeles and was blown away by this clever, sharp, and hilarious horror-comedy. Since that time, I've been anxiously awaiting the DVD release, and just got my own copy from Amazon yesterday. Yay! I can't wait to share this film with my friends, who've heard me yapping enthusiastically about this "amazing indie horror-comedy flick" for several months. It's one great, big, fun-poking jab at the horror genre through the eyes of the bumbling writing team of Todd and Bruce, It riffs on a lot of horror clichés: a cabin in a woods, a who-done-it crime, creepy characters, etc, which are "just so derivative," because as Bruce says, "It's horror, of course it's derivative!" Great fun. Gotta love a film that simultaneously laughs at and celebrates its own wonderful horror genre. Bo Keister, Mike Kopera, Melissa Mars, and Angela Relucio and the entire cast are great in their roles -- all are very, very talented. The writing is sharp, the production value impressive. I can't wait to see director Steve Kopera's next project, though it will be tough to top this film!

As is expected for films in the horror/comedy genre, this indie gem starts a tad slowly. However, once the premise is set, the screen explodes into a roller coaster of perfectly timed one-liners, nuanced camera work, and effectively gruesome SFX.I especially enjoyed the writing - the interplay between the two male leads made the film fly, and the rest of the cast was incredibly impressive - especially for an independent film.An unexpected pleasure was the original music, (especially the closing) great work.And a plea to Todd and Bruce: More, please!