The Rise Of Joss Whedon

After a career writing for television spanning over 20 years, Joss "The Boss" Whedon has been propelled into the Hollywood limelight following the release of two films within a fortnight. The Cabin In The Woods and [The] Avengers [Assemble] are quite different films – one destined for cult status, and another a mega-budget blockbuster – yet they both exude the hallmarks of a writer with a great passion for his source material. It’s no secret that Whedon is a fanboy, and much of his television work (Buffy/Angel/Firefly) courted loyal cult followings. His big-screen directorial debut, Serenity, also displayed his ability to adapt longitudinal mythologies into fun, action-packed features. This skill of reinvention is the joy behind Cabin and Avengers, two films from overdone genres that, with a touch of Whedon magic, are original, fresh and funny.

The Cabin In The Woods

With Buffy, Whedon sought to subvert the idea of the little blonde girl in horror films who had always been the victim, and instead create a hero. In Cabin In The Woods, however, Whedon has gone a step further – creating a film in which the audience are the villain. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot to Cabin, as this comedy-horror’s strength lies in its originality and unpredictability. That said, the film is entirely constructed from overdone horror clichés, which don’t always run together smoothly. Yet there are still loads of laughs to be had from the shameful exploitation of gore, shock, sex and violence; as well as the ongoing meta-joke that the audience are pulling the strings of the action and baying for teenage blood. Whilst Cabin In The Woods isn’t perfect, it’s a hilarious and entertaining ride.

9 / 10

Avengers

Superhero movies have been flying out of the cinema at a rate of roughly one a month for the past two years. So you could be forgiven for expecting Avengers to be anything more than a group of superheroes you’ve seen before spitting out puns and fighting CGI monsters for 140mins. But surprisingly, Avengers has more to offer than that. It is clear that Whedon has a real interest in the characters and direction of the Avengers story; as the familiar heroes interact convincingly with unclichéd wit. Mark Ruffalo in particular delivers a standout performance as Bruce Banner – adding a real depth and vulnerability to a character that has been seemingly unplayable in recent years. Although there is a slight dip in momentum during the second act, the final action-packed battle sequence is hugely entertaining, and will have even the most snobbish film fan whooping like Michael Bay.

8 / 10