Chris Hemsworth's 95-Minute Cult Classic Sci-Fi Horror Movie Is A Perfect Weekend Watch

Contrary to popular belief, there was a time in Chris Hemsworth's career when he wasn't predominantly seen throwing a hammer at people. Just as he was starting to break big as Thor Odinson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he turned up in a movie that's become a modern cult classic and includes tropes from just about every horror genre you can think of. 

Released in 2011, Drew Goddard (creator of Netflix's original "Daredevil" series and the man hard at work on a fifth "Matrix" movie) directed "The Cabin in the Woods," the super-smart scarefest that saw a group of 20-somethings head out to the titular spot only to find all manner of terrors waiting there to kill them. The difference that sets this movie apart from the likes of "Evil Dead" or "Cabin Fever," however, was that these unfortunate lambs to the slaughter were part of a long-running sacrifice ritual arranged by a secret organization that had all manner of monsters at their disposal to unleash upon our heroes. That is until all hell breaks loose. 

Joining Hemsworth for this horror ride were Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford, plus a cameo from Sigourney Weaver. Brilliantly blending horror with humor, "The Cabin in the Woods" applied a very fresh spin on a tired formula, and critics lapped it up on release.

"The Cabin in the Woods" was a great stepping stone for Hemsworth and, looking back now, an indicator of where he was in his career.  This was another entry where his screen time was shorter than what we'd be used to. Moreover, with his brief stint in the Kelvin timeline with 2009's "Star Trek," Hemsworth was getting used to being killed off before the third act. The difference with "The Cabin in the Woods" is that, by this point, audiences had familiarized themselves with seeing him play hero, so his abrupt death driving into a wall became one of the darkly comedic highlights of an already entertaining entry.

With its sharply written story and surprisingly killer twists sprinkled throughout the film, "The Cabin in the Woods" got a lot of praise, and deservedly so. IndieWire praised Goddard's work, saying that it ranked "among one of the most wryly self-aware works of American pop culture entertainment in years." Anthony Quinn from The Independent also gave the movie its blood-soaked flowers, asking, "Would you like your head thoroughly messed with? Then check straight into The Cabin in the Woods." 

Admittedly, even after being such a critical hit, audiences got lost on their way to "The Cabin in the Woods." Against a $30 million production budget, the film earned a disappointing $69.9 million at the box office, only gaining some extra life on home release and becoming a popular horror comedy over time.