🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Eli Roth
- Genre: Horror, Comedy
- Release year: 2002
- Runtime (length): 1h 33min
- IMDb rating: 5.6/10 (86K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Five friends go to a cabin, get a gnarly rash, and then everything goes downhill while a kid screams about pancakes.
🍿 Cabin Fever: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Cabin in the Woods
Five college graduates – Paul, Karen, Marcy, Jeff, and Bert – head to a remote cabin in the woods for a relaxing vacation after finals. On the way, they stop at a local convenience store where they encounter odd locals, setting an unsettling tone for their getaway.

Encounter with the Hermit
While at the cabin, Bert accidentally shoots a hermit covered in festering sores. The hermit stumbles to the cabin seeking help, but the terrified group refuses assistance. The hermit ends up dying in their water supply, contaminating it with a flesh-eating virus.

The Virus Spreads
Karen contracts the virus after drinking the contaminated water and develops gruesome sores. As the infection spreads, the friends isolate her in a shed, and paranoia begins to consume them. The group descends into chaos and violence as they struggle to survive.

Descent into Madness
Marcy and Paul engage in reckless behavior, further spreading the virus. The group continues to splinter, with members succumbing to the disease and others turning on each other in desperation. Bert seeks help from the town, but the locals are hostile and wary of outsiders.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Paul (Rider Strong): A relatively level-headed college student, Paul struggles to survive the flesh-eating virus and the ensuing chaos while grappling with his feelings for Karen.
- Karen (Jordan Ladd): Karen is the first of the group to contract the virus, leading to her isolation and a gruesome demise.
- Bert (James DeBello): Bert is the immature and careless friend who inadvertently triggers the spread of the virus.
- Marcy (Cerina Vincent): Marcy is the sexually adventurous member of the group whose choices lead to tragic consequences.
- Jeff (Joey Kern): Jeff is the self-centered and cowardly friend who prioritizes his own survival, ultimately meeting a grim end.
- Henry (The Hermit) (Arie Verveen): Henry is the initial carrier of the flesh-eating virus who seeks help from the college students, only to be rejected and inadvertently contaminate the water supply.
- Winston Olsen (Giuseppe Andrews): Winston is the bumbling local deputy whose actions, driven by incompetence and misinformation, contribute to the spread of the virus.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Marcy: “Don’t worry, I’m healthy!” – Marcy says this to Paul during sex, disregarding his concern about using a condom, just before she discovers she’s infected.
- Bert: “What else am I supposed to do?” – Bert says this after shooting the car with a BB gun, disabling it.
- Old Man Cadwell: “Hi, my nigga, how are you?” – Said in the last line of the movie, highlighting the dark humor and commentary on societal issues.
- Marcy: “What’s wrong with the woods?” – Marcy’s question sets a tone of impending doom and mystery.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $1.5M
- Domestic Gross: $21.1M
- Worldwide Gross: $30.5M
💥 Cabin Fever Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I watched “Cabin Fever” for the first time last night, and wow, it was a wild ride! I’m not gonna lie, some of the scenes made me cringe, but in a fun, horror-movie kind of way. The gore was definitely over the top, but it was also kind of hilarious? I think it tried to find the line between horror and comedy, and ended up walking it pretty well. I was hooked from beginning to end, even when I wanted to look away. This movie definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you like gory horror with a touch of dark humor, give it a shot. It’s an experience, for sure!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of horror-comedy films.”
- “Viewers who appreciate practical gore effects.”
- “Audiences interested in movies that subvert horror tropes.”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Graphic violence and gore”
- “Strong language”
- “Nudity and sexual content”
- “Disturbing themes”
Professional Reviews
- Variety: “”Cabin Fever” delivers on gore and gross-out moments, but its uneven tone and underdeveloped characters prevent it from being truly frightening. The film feels like a mishmash of horror tropes without a clear sense of its own identity.
- The New York Times: “Eli Roth’s directorial debut is a tedious and predictable exercise in splatter. The characters are unlikable, the plot is nonsensical, and the scares are cheap and ineffective. “Cabin Fever” fails to deliver on its promise of gruesome fun.
- Entertainment Weekly: “”Cabin Fever” aims for a blend of horror and humor but misses the mark on both counts. The film’s attempts at dark comedy fall flat, and the gore feels gratuitous rather than genuinely shocking. It’s a messy and ultimately unsatisfying experience.
Audience Reactions
The film’s blend of horror and dark humor made it a memorable viewing experience.: Many viewers appreciated the film’s over-the-top gore and its willingness to push boundaries, while the “Pancakes” scene is still a highlight.
The practical effects and makeup were impressively disgusting.: Many fans praised the practical effects, particularly the makeup used to depict the flesh-eating virus. They found it disturbingly realistic and effective.
Overall Consensus: “Cabin Fever” is a divisive horror film that some viewers find to be a fun and gory ride, while others find it to be a poorly executed mess.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Eli Roth has stated that the film was inspired by a real-life experience he had when he contracted a skin infection while working on a farm in Iceland.”
- “The film was shot on a low budget, and Roth had to use practical effects to create the gruesome visuals. This included using everything from corn syrup and food coloring to latex and prosthetic makeup.”
- “During filming, Rider Strong, covered in fake blood for a scene, encountered a group of schoolgirls on a field trip. Their screams turned to louder screams when they recognized him from ‘Boy Meets World,’ leading to a chase through the woods.”
🖥️ How to Watch Cabin Fever?
Cabin Fever is available for streaming rental or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred provider for current pricing and availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Cabin Fever, you might like these similar films:
- The Evil Dead (1981): Both films feature college students isolated in a cabin in the woods, facing a terrifying, unseen force that drives them to madness and violence.
- 28 Days Later (2002): Features a rapidly spreading, horrifying virus that turns people into monstrous versions of themselves, leading to societal breakdown.
- Night of the Living Dead (1968): A group of people barricade themselves inside a rural farmhouse to evade hordes of flesh-eating zombies. Paranoia, fear, and lack of communication are all factors in this cult classic.
- It Follows (2014): Centers on a supernatural entity that relentlessly pursues its victims, creating a sense of dread and paranoia.
- Braindead (1992): Known for its over-the-top gore and darkly comedic tone, similar to Cabin Fever’s blend of horror and humor.
🛒 Cabin Fever Related Products
- Cabin Fever (Unrated Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]: Features an unrated cut of the film with bonus features, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. This edition provides a deeper look into the making of the movie.
- Cabin Fever: Patient Zero [Blu-ray]: Expand your Cabin Fever collection with this sequel. See how the flesh eating virus continues to evolve and infect new victims.
- Eli Roth’s History of Horror: Season 1: Get a deeper insight of the genre of horror through the eyes of Eli Roth, the director of Cabin Fever.
- Plush Zombie Dog Toy: A collectible, high-quality plush, that represents the loveable Dr.Mambo. A great product to remember one of the more memorable characters from the film.
🎧 Soundtrack
Cabin Fever features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The film never specifies the exact type of virus, but it causes rapid decomposition of flesh, leading to gruesome symptoms and death.
Cabin Fever was primarily filmed in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, for the cabin exteriors. Additional scenes were shot in Dundas, Ontario, and Los Angeles.
The ending highlights the uncontrolled spread of the virus and suggests a bleak outlook for the wider population due to contaminated water sources and products.
🔥 Bonus Content
The Viral Contagion of Cabin Fever Explained | The Symptoms of and Syndrome that destroys flesh
Curious about the flesh-eating disease in ‘Cabin Fever’? This video breaks down its effects with scientific detail. It’s a must-watch for fans of horror and medical thrillers.
Flesh Eating Virus (Cabin Fever Explored)
Prepare to get grossed out! This video digs into the gruesome flesh-eating virus of ‘Cabin Fever.’ If you’re a fan of horror and gore, you won’t want to miss this detailed exploration.
Drag Queens Trixie Mattel & Katya React to Hush and Cabin Fever | I Like to Watch Horror | Netflix
Get ready for a hilarious take on ‘Cabin Fever’! Trixie Mattel and Katya’s commentary adds a fresh and entertaining layer to the movie. It’s a great watch for fans of drag and horror alike.
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