Hello, everyone! It’s One Of Us’ weekly article series, “The Weekly Wrap-Up.” Covering everything from film announcements to comic books, “The Weekly Wrap-Up” ensures that the biggest stories of the week are analyzed and discussed by our team of writers. This week we talk about the trailer for the Cabin Fever remake and the future of Netflix’s House of Cards.
Cabin Fever Trailer
Produced by Eli Roth (The Green Inferno) and directed by Travis Zarwiny (Intruder), Cabin Fever follows several horny and extremely stupid teenagers as they encounter a highly-contagious and very gross flesh-eating disease at a remote lakeside cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Does the premise sound familiar? It should since the film is a remake of Roth’s 2002 horror film of the same name, and aside from a few minor changes, the film appears to be hitting the exact same beats as the original.
Roth is a bit of a…”divisive” filmmaker among audiences and critics, and while he’s not directing this remake of Cabin Fever, the fact that the film is supposedly using his original screenplay and is also being made by one of his most passionate fans isn’t exactly encouraging. While Cabin Fever is probably Roth’s most (and only) well-regarded work, a remake of the film just feels pointless and screams of a quick cash grab.
Cabin Fever will open in limited release and will be available on VOD on February 12, 2016.
House of Cards Returning for a 5th Season
Though the fourth season of House of Cards is set to premiere later this March, Netflix has already gone ahead and announced that the political drama series will return in 2017 for a fifth season. Along with that announcement, House of Cards creator Beua Willimon has confirmed that he will not be returning as the series’ showrunner.
Netflix has released a statement in regard to Willimon’s departure, praising his work on the series.
“Netflix and MRC owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Beau Willimon for his strong narrative vision for ‘House of Cards‘ over the show’s first four seasons. As an Academy Award nominated writer, he made his first foray into television and built a riveting and critically acclaimed series, establishing his place in TV history. The producers, cast and crew join us in wishing Beau the best in his next creative adventure,” Netflix said in a statement.”
Willimon also released a statement, and though he did not provide a reason for his departure, he thanked and the entire House of Cards production.
“I’m grateful to Netflix and MRC, my fellow executive producers, our two incandescent stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, our talented writers, as well as the incredible cast and crew with whom I’ve had the privilege to work. After five years and four seasons, it’s time for me to move on to new endeavors, but I’m supremely proud of what we’ve built together, wish the show much continued success, and leave it in the hands of a very capable team.”
While I’m looking forward to House of Cards’ return, I can’t say I was a fan of the show’s third season. With its meandering plotlines and insipid new characters, the series seemed to forget that it was at its best when it was about Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) trying to manipulate, scheme and murder his way to power. Having him finally reach the presidency at the end of the show’s second season was exciting and scary, especially knowing all of the horrible things he did to attain that position. However, the third season seemed to be obsessed with highlighting the difficulties and bureaucracy surrounding the executive branch of government, and while this may have been the intent of Willimon and his writers, it doesn’t exactly make for exciting television. I was hopeful that fourth season would be the show’s last, but with this announcement of a fifth season coming in 2017, and coupled with the departure of Willimon, I can’t help but feel skeptical of Netflix’s decision to extend the life of the series.
Season 4 of House of Cards will premiere on Netflix on March 4.
