Cabin Fever (franchise)

Last updated

Cabin Fever
Cabin Fever franchise logo.jpg
Official franchise logo
Created by Eli Roth
Original work Cabin Fever (2002)
Owner
Years2002–2016
Films and television
Film(s)

Cabin Fever is a series of American comedy horror films, including the original theatrical release, two straight-to-home media releases with a sequel and a prequel that both received limited theatrical releases, and one theatrical remake. Created by Eli Roth, the plot centers around groups of people who contract an extremely deadly flesh-eating disease, and their attempts to survive its symptoms.

Contents

The original film was met with a generally mixed critical reception, [1] though it was deemed a success at the box office. [2] The second installment received an even more derived critical response, [3] and though it earned less than its predecessor it earned a profit for the studios. [4] The prequel film was released to negative reviews, [5] and its monetary statistics indicate that it earned the studio income through home video sales. [6] The 2016 remake received the least positive reception of the entire franchise, [7] considered to be inferior to the original, and also performed poorly financially. [8]

Films

FilmU.S.
release date
DirectorScreenwriter(s)Story byProducers
Cabin Fever September 12, 2003 Eli Roth Eli Roth & Randy PearlsteinEli RothLauren Moews, Sam Froelich, Evan Astrowsky and Eli Roth
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever September 23, 2009 Ti West Joshua MalkinTi West & Randy PearlsteinLauren Moews, Patrick Durham and Jonathan Sachar
Cabin Fever: Patient Zero August 1, 2014 Kaare Andrews Jake Wade WallEvan Astrowsky and Jaime Pina
Cabin Fever February 12, 2016Travis ZEli Roth & Randy PearlsteinEli RothEvan Astrowsky, Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros

Cabin Fever (2002)

A group of college friends consisting of Paul, Karen, Bert, Marcy, and Jeff plan a week-long vacation getaway together, at an isolated cabin. Upon their arrival, a man infected with an undisclosed flesh-eating disease approaches them for help, though in a panicked frenzy they incinerate the man. When he falls into the local reservoir and dies, the water supply quickly becomes contaminated. Unbeknownst to the friends, their weekend partying is about to become a living nightmare as they one by one contract the sickness, and fight to escape shack in the woods as survivors. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)

Following the events of the previous installment, the predatory flesh-eating disease begins to spread. As a group of friends: John, Cassie, Alex, and Liz start their evening in excitement for their high school prom night; contaminated water begins to spread the affliction throughout the night. Through a series of events, one by one the event's attendees succumb to the sickness. Together the friends fight to stay alive through the night, while they watch their peers horrifically die before them. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (2014)

When a group of friends named Marcus, Kate, Josh, Penny, and Dobbs believe that they're going to experience a bachelor party to remember, they travel to a privately-owned island in the Caribbean. As they celebrate the occasion together, they discover the locale is not as remote as they had been told when they stumble upon a research facility running tests on an imprisoned man who is infected by an undisclosed disease. When the extremely contagious deadly flesh-eating virus is released from its containment, the friends quickly scramble to escape the island, all while fighting to last the rapid outbreak. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Cabin Fever (2016)

In October 2014, it was announced that a remake of the 2002 film was being developed, using the same script as the original. [25] Directed by Travis Z, the new adaptation was poorly received by audiences and critics alike. While the production made minor changes, it was declared inferior to its source material with critiques directed at its near shot-for-shot depiction of the first movie, while replacing the comedy elements with a grounded dark interpretation instead. [26] [27] [28] [29]

Despite its rejection from the audience, franchise creator Eli Roth appreciated the movie, praising the filmmaker; stating: "I saw it and I was blown away. I couldn't believe it. Travis Zariwny the director did a fantastic job." [30]

Future

In December 2023, Eli Roth stated that he intends to develop another Cabin Fever movie; stating that he felt like he had "ignored them for too long." Acknowledging that he has ideas for where to take the story next, the filmmaker confirmed he also wants to once again serve in his role of director. [31] [32]

Principal cast and characters

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

CharacterFilms
Cabin Fever
(2002)
Cabin Fever 2:
Spring Fever
Cabin Fever:
Patient Zero
Cabin Fever
(2016)
Principal cast
Paul Rider Strong  Samuel Davis
Karen Jordan Ladd   Gage Golightly
Jeff Joey Kern   Matthew Daddario
Marcy Cerina Vincent  Nadine Crocker
BertJames DeBello  Dustin Ingram
John  Noah Segan  
Cassie Alexi Wasser 
Alex Rusty Kelley 
Liz Grillington Regan Deal 
Marcus Mitch Ryan 
Kate Arias Claudette Lali 
Josh  Brando Eaton  
Penny  Jillian Murray  
Dobbs  Brando Eaton  
Dr. Edwards  Currie Graham  
Mr. Porter  Sean Astin  
Supporting cast
Grim Eli Roth
(as Justin)
 Timothy G. Zajaros
(as Connor)
Dep. Winston Olsen Giuseppe Andrews  
Dep. Winston  Louise Linton
Henry Caldwell, the Hermit Arie Verveen  Randy Schulman
"Old Man" CaldwellRobert Harris George Griffith
Tommy CaldwellHal Courtney Aaron Trainor
DennisMatthew Helms Derrick R. Means
Bunny ManAppearedOzzy Alvarez 
BillWilliam G. Stone Larry Fessenden  
Prin. Sinclair  Michael Bowen  
Rick Thomas Blake, Jr. 
Frederica  Amanda Jelks  
Marc  Marc Senter  
Herman Olsen  Mark Borchardt  
Camila Solly Duran 
Bridgett  Lydia Hearst  

Additional crew and production details

FilmCrew/Detail
ComposerCinematographerEditor(s)Production
companies
Distributing
companies
Running time
Cabin Fever (2002) Nathan Barr Scott KevanRyan Folsey Lions Gate Films,
Black Sky Entertainment,
Deer Path Films,
Down Home Entertainment,
Tonic Films
Lions Gate Entertainment 1 hr 34 mins
Cabin Fever 2:
Spring Fever
Ryan Shore Eliot RockettJanice Hampton Lionsgate Films,
Tonic Films,
Morningstar Films,
Aloe Entertainment,
Proud Mary Entertainment
Lionsgate 1 hr 26 mins
Cabin Fever:
Patient Zero
Kevin Riepl Norm Li Michael P. Mason RLJE Films,
Voltage Pictures,
Indomina Group,
Hypotenuse Pictures
Image Entertainment 1 hr 35 mins
Cabin Fever (2016)Gavin KellyKyle TekielaArmory Films,
Contend Entertainment,
Pelican Point Media
IFC Midnight 1 hr 38 mins

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingVideo
sales gross
Worldwide total
gross income
BudgetWorldwide total
net income
Ref.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll time
North America
All time
worldwide
Cabin Fever (2002)$21,158,188$9,395,206$30,553,394#3,623#4,816Figures not publicly available>$30,553,394$1,500,000≥$29,053,394 [2] [33]
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever Figures not publicly available>$0$709,507≥$709,507Information not publicly available≤$709,507 [4]
Cabin Fever: Patient Zero Figures not publicly available>$0$326,291≥$326,291Information not publicly available≤$326,291 [6]
Cabin Fever (2016)$114,835$114,835#17,852#24,776$125,697$240,532Information not publicly available≤$240,532 [8] [34]
Totals$21,158,188>$9,510,041>$30,668,229x̄ #7,390x̄ #7,400>$1,161,495>$31,829,724>$1,500,000≥$30,329,724

Critical response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Cabin Fever(2002)62% (141 reviews) [1] 56/100 (31 reviews) [35]
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever[ to be determined ] (2 reviews) [3]
Cabin Fever: Patient Zero20% (20 reviews) [5] 30/100 (12 reviews) [36]
Cabin Fever(2016)0% (29 reviews) [7] 14/100 (7 reviews) [37]

Cancelled projects

In 2011, the announcement of Cabin Fever: Patient Zero and a fourth film was revealed to be in development at Indomina and Hypotenuse Pictures, with both films expected to shoot back-to-back. Texas Chainsaw 3D screenwriters Adam Marcus and Debra Marcus were tapped to pen the script, entitled Cabin Fever: Outbreak, with a planned production start of Spring 2012 in the Dominican Republic. [38] The initial plot served as direct sequel to Patient Zero and followed a doctor on a Caribbean island attempting to contain the virus. [39] [40] However, story changes were made with the final iteration taking place on a cruise ship. [41] Production for Patient Zero was delayed to August and then to October 2012, with no mention of any further updates on Outbreak. [42] [43] By May 2013, Voltage Pictures and Idomina began developments to create a trilogy of films that followed chronologically after Patient Zero. [44] By April 2014 however, these plans were scrapped altogether in favor of producing a remake of the original film. Indomina exited the new project, while Cassian Elwes and Evan Astrowsky boarded the remake as producers. [45] [46]

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