Cabin In The Woods Ending Explained (In Detail)

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Despite releasing over a decade ago, the depth of The Cabin in the Woods' horror satire and ending is still drawing discussion. Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods bends the horror genre in a way that's rarely done well, introducing a subtle but persistent satirical subtext into what seems on the surface to be a relatively simplistic slasher. The film's use of satire is ultimately what separates The Cabin in the Woods from its more self-serious contemporaries, securing the film a lasting legacy alongside the likes of Scream and The Evil Dead.

While it's primarily a satirical take on the horror genre, The Cabin in the Woods is also able to carry off much of what makes horror movies so popular. This is ultimately why the film remains so popular (in fact, The Cabin in the Woods landed Chris Hemsworth the role of Thor, technically making it the Australian actor's breakout role), as its reverence for the horror genre is immediately offset by its biting satire. However, this also leads to some confusion regarding the specific meaning of the film and its ending.

Related: Cabin In The Woods' Big Twist Was Done Before By A Texas Chainsaw Sequel

Despite starting out as a seemingly mundane slasher, The Cabin in the Woods soon establishes a more sinister premise. This is also used to offset the tension of the titular cabin with more comedic scenes in the facility below, but the film's third act sees the two combine. As the horror is quickly amped up in anticipation of the film's final twist, it's easy to miss some of the more nuanced elements of The Cabin in the Woods' ending.

After witnessing the brutal murder of three of their friends, Dana and Marty escape the cabin by using an access hatch that leads to the