Taking its cues from earlier gore-horror classics (Evil Dead, Braindead), Cabin Fever is probably the best of the recent retro-70/80s horror flicks (e.g. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wrong Turn). Writer/Director Eli Roth's brainchild, this film follows a basic horror set-up. Five teenagers organise to spend a weekend in a deserted cabin, intent on celebrating their graduation with sex, booze, and everything that makes it worth being a teenager. As this is a horror film, it's not too long before things start to go terribly wrong (cue gore).

In some ways, Cabin Fever actually seems to be better thought out than the films it's inspired by - the titular virus as a catalyst is much more reasonable rationale than, for example, the supernatural nonsense from Evil Dead. It is also good to see that the film has maintained the bizarre off-beat sense of humour that was popular in early 80s horror, an example being the townspeople's attitudes throughout the film, or the cheerfully apocalyptic ending. Featuring some superb camerawork and nicely pitched music, this film certainly succeeds in fitting the genre it's aiming for. Although much more restrained than other films of the genre, this film is still pretty violent, and so would probably not be recommended for sensitive viewers.