The Hunger Games (2012)

An annual event, The Hunger Games pit one female and one male teenager from each of 12 fictional districts in an all-against-all fight to the death in the wilderness. A descendant of Battle Royale, the film is enriched by its televised reality show component. In this, wealthy spectators are able to influence the result by purchasing instant supply drops for agreeable contestants. A star-crossed romance develops between Katniss and Peeta, the two protagonists chosen from the 12th district. We are then forced to decide whether their relationship is entirely genuine or whether each of them are deceiving the cameras for the tide-turning goodie packs. The soundtrack plays second fiddle to the movie but is present throughout and keeps the film on its toes. Some genuinely gory scenes are surprising and the plot evokes tension while keeping the viewer rooting for the underdogs. This is well-balanced and rewatchable - so long as you aren't expecting anything too serious.

8/10

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

TCITW starts off as a pedestrian horror flick and then becomes something a little bit unwieldy as a group of teenagers head to a remote cabin during summer break. Using stereotypical plot devices such as the 'hick gas attendant', the audience is lulled into expecting the run of the mill before being given an over-arching story and sense of purpose for the gore onscreen. The twist and comic relief makes this a refreshing take on the genre however it does feel a little too rushed at times and there are a fair few liberties with logic. Nonetheless, the soundtrack and the acting are reasonable thanks to a decent budget. Rewatchable for its pace, this is a lighter throwback to 90's successes such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. 

7.5/10