The Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon‘s brilliant riff on the horror genre, opens this Friday and you must see it.  It’s one of the best movies of the year, and seeing it will finally allow you to stop ducking spoilers left and right.  You know and I know that once the movie opens it will be almost impossible to go on Facebook or Twitter without some jerk spoiling something, so your best option is to see this flick as soon as possible.

Today, we’re proud to offer a giveaway of some pretty amazing swag for the movie.  After the jump, find out how you can win a signed poster, a t-shirt, the novelization, the official visual companion, and a collapsible bong.  That’s right: we’re giving away a collapsible bong (two collapsible bongs, actually; the runner up gets one too!).  And remember: The Cabin in the Woods opens this Friday.  See it.

The Cabin in the Woods, from Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon – and opening (quite appropriately) in theaters on Friday, April 13^th – is a great horror film that is just so much fun to watch.  It’s creative, imaginative and hysterically funny, all while turning horror on its head and challenging anything that follows.  So as not to ruin any aspect of the film, I will just include the official synopsis which says: “Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods.  Bad things happen.”  And, do they ever!

During this recent phone interview with Collider, actor Fran Kranz (Dollhouse), who plays a pot smoking guy named Marty in the film, talked about what a big classic horror fan he is, his unusual auditioning process for the role (that included reading a monologue about his friend having gotten his head chopped off by The Clickety Clack Man), how he thought it was one of the best scripts he’s ever read, that the finished film is pretty much exactly what he originally read, how there could be some amazing bonus features on the DVD because of all the behind-the-scenes footage that was shot, and how he hopes people will love the film as much as he clearly loved getting to be a part of it.  He also talked about he got to be a part of the backyard production of Much Ado About Nothing that Joss Whedon shot at his house, what a fun and relaxed experience it was, and how he’s looking forward to seeing it, along with what it’s like to be a part of the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, among other notables.  Check out what he had to say after the jump.

I want to make this very clear: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  Trust me when I say: Stop watching the trailers.  Don’t watch any TV spots.  Do not read the reviews.  Just go see the film on opening day next week (and then read Matt’s glowing review).  I promise, it’s worth the price of admission, and after you see it, you’ll want to see it again.

At this year’s SXSW, I got to talk with the cast and filmmakers for both our partners at Omelete and Collider.  Over the next week, I’ll be posting a new interview each day.  Today’s is Joss Whedon and Director Drew Goddard.  During the interview we talked about premiering the film at SXSW, their writing process, deleted scenes, and more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Earlier this year, we here at Collider brought you our most anticipated films of the first quarter.  2012 has gotten off to a promising start with more than a few gems, and now it’s time to look to the next three months of the year.  Matt, Adam, Brendan, and Dave have each picked their top five films for the next installment of our Most Anticipated series, providing a brief explanation for why these films are on our radar and what has us excited.  Hit the jump to check out our picks, along with information on the cast and plot for each film.

I want to make this very clear: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  Trust me when I say: Stop watching the trailers.  Don’t watch any TV spots.  Do not read the reviews.  Just go see the film on opening day next week (and then read Matt’s glowing review).  I promise, it’s worth the price of admission, and after you see it, you’ll want to see it again.

At this year’s SXSW, I got to talk with the cast and filmmakers for both our partners at Omelete and Collider.  Over the next week, I’ll be posting a new interview each day.  Today’s is  Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford.  During the interview we talked about premiering the film at SXSW, working with Whedon and Goddard, preparing for dancing on screen, and more. Hit the jump to watch.

I want to make this very clear: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  Trust me when I say: Stop watching the trailers.  Don’t watch any TV spots.  Do not read the reviews.  Just go see the film on opening day next week (and then read Matt’s glowing review).  I promise, it’s worth the price of admission, and after you see it, you’ll want to see it again.

Last week, Collider held a free screening of the film in Boston, and I spoke with a number of people after the screening to get their reactions.   Hit the jump to watch what they had to say.

I want to make this very clear: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen and easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head and I loved every second of it.  Trust me when I say…stop watching the trailers.  Don’t watch any TV spots.  Do not read the reviews.  Just go see the film on opening day next week.  I promise, it’s worth the price of admission and after you see it, you’ll want to see it again.

At this year’s SXSW, I was able to sit down with Joss Whedon (who co-wrote the script) for an exclusive interview.  Since I didn’t want to talk about anything that could spoil the film, our conversation turned to his writing process, casting the film, Comic-Con, what he collects, Easter eggs, and more.  In addition, with Whedon directing that small indie film called The Avengers, we also talked about the running time, the music, deleted scenes, and more.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.

Director Drew Goddard and co-writer Joss Whedon‘s The Cabin in the Woods is a masterful take down of the supernatural horror genre, and that about all I can say since some people believe the “twist” is half of the film’s appeal.  I would argue that it’s the hook, and since it’s revealed in the first scene of the movie, it’s not much of a spoiler.  Nevertheless, I won’t reveal it here, and if you’re curious about it and how it functions in the film, you can click here to read my review.

The first clip has gone online and doesn’t reveal “the spoiler”, so I’d say the coast is clear.  It also shows how Fran Kranz is the movie’s scene stealer.  Hit the jump to check out the clip.  The film also stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.  The Cabin in the Woods opens April 13th.  Boston readers: click here for a chance to attend an advance screening.

One of the most buzzed about films of the year doesn’t open for a few weeks, but we here at Collider are thrilled to be hosting a free screening of The Cabin in the Woods well in advance of the film’s wide release.  In tandem with Lionsgate, we’ll be hosting the advanced screening of the horror film on Monday, March 26th in Boston.  Furthermore, stars Kristen Connolly and Fran Kranz will be onhand to participate in a Q&A following the screening.  Buzz for The Cabin in the Woods has been nuts since it screened at SXSW, with our own Matt Goldberg calling it “one of the sharpest satires of the horror genre ever made.”  Director Drew Goddard and co-writer Joss Whedon have apparently crafted a horror film unlike any other, as they take the genre and turn it on its head.

Hit the jump to find out how you can attend the screening.

I’ll use this week’s opening paragraph to offer a bit of foreshadowing. There’s a great chance that I’m going to be talking about 21 Jump Street here next week. Now, I’ll admit, I’ve never been one to laud the work of Channing Tatum. For the first time ever, though, I’m going into a film with high expectations for his performance. I think that everything I’ve seen of the film thus far looks terrific and Matt’s review and this NSFW extended trailer are just icing on the cake at this point.

On tap in this week’s “Top 5″ is a plethora of John Carter coverage including interviews with Taylor Kitsch, Andrew Stanton and more, a video blog recap of Topher Grace‘s Star Wars prequels edit, new images and a new trailer for The Cabin in the Woods, Silent House interviews with Elizabeth Olsen and co-directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, and the first image of Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in The Lone Ranger. Per usual, a brief recap and link to each await after the jump.

The Cabin in the Woods is one of the sharpest satires of the horror genre ever made.  Great satire can only come from intelligent, witty, and devious minds.  Director Drew Goddard and his co-writer Joss Whedon have those minds.  They have dissected not just the “cabin in the woods” sub-genre, but the entire horror genre, and most importantly, our enjoyment of it.  Rather than just point out the tired clichés we all know, Goddard and Whedon use the deconstruction as a starting point rather than a dull summation.   It is an exciting, exhilarating, and bloody means to a thoughtful, rewarding, and bloody end.

The lucky bastards at SXSW in Austin will be treated to Drew Goddard’s much buzzed-about horror film The Cabin in the Woods this evening, and while the rest of us will have to seethe with jealousy from afar, a couple new images from the pic have been released to tide us over. Written by Goddard and Joss Whedon, the film tells the story of five friends who go to a remote cabin in the woods where bad things happen. Though the logline is simple, it’s evident from the trailer that this isn’t exactly the most straightforward of horror films. I’ve been told that the movie is excellent, with enough twists and turns to make your head spin. Goddard and Whedon apparently tackle the horror genre head-on, and I can’t wait to finally be privy to the results. For now, these very creepy images will have to do. Be sure to check back on Collider late tonight or tomorrow to read our own Matt Goldberg’s review of the film from the festival.

Hit the jump to check out the images. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins. The Cabin in the Woods opens on April 13th.

A new trailer for the horror film The Cabin in the Woods has gone online. Directed by Drew Goddard and written by Goddard and Joss Whedon, the film takes the horror genre and turns it on its head as five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods where bad things start happening. The logline is simple, but the buzz on this film is incredibly positive. I’ve been told that the movie’s twists and turns are best left as surprises, so I’m pretty in the dark about what exactly happens in this cabin in the woods. Needless to say, I’m incredibly excited to go into the film relatively cold. This trailer is much more along the lines of your typical horror film that the first trailer, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. The big sell for movie fans is the involvement of Whedon and Goddard, but this trailer should appeal to the average moviegoer who’s up for two hours of good ol’ fashioned horror fun.

Hit the jump to check out the new trailer. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins. The film opens on April 13th, but our own Matt Goldberg will have a review from the film’s premiere at SXSW this Friday.

The line-up for this year’s 2012 Atlanta Film Festival has been announced.  The festival will open with the comedy L!fe Happens starring Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth, and Rachel Bilson.  I don’t know about the opener (I love Ritter), but ATLFF will have a popular closer with Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods finishing out the festival.  In between there’s some must-see stuff like Compliance (one of the best films I saw at Sundance), God Bless America (I didn’t care for it, but I was in the minority when I saw it at TIFF), the charming and Oscar-nominated Monsieur Lazhar, the horror anthology V/H/S, and the drama The Woman in the Fifth starring Ethan Hawke and Kristen Scott Thomas.  Also, ATLFF has wisely recognized the cinematic quality of Game of Thrones and so in partnership with HBO and Xfinity, the festival will be showing the premiere of Season 2 at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

Hit the jump for the press release, which includes the full line-up.  The 2012 Atlanta Film Festival runs from March 23 – April 1st.

After being delayed for over two years, The Cabin in the Woods will finally hit theaters this April.  The movie is director Drew Goddard and co-writer Joss Whedon‘s spin on the “Cabin in the Woods” horror sub-genre, and as we saw from the trailer, it’s a spin we didn’t expect when we first heard about the project.  A new image has gone online, and it’s more of the “Cabin” side of the plot as opposed to the other side (which I’ll keep quiet on this time since people whined about spoilers when I mentioned what was in the trailer).

Hit the jump to check out the image.  The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kanz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.  The Cabin in the Woods opens April 13th, but look for my review on March 9th after the movie premieres at SXSW.