A playful ode to the horror films of the late '70s and early '80s, Eli Roth's "Cabin Fever" proudly wears its influences on its blood-soaked sleeve. [...] while fans of the genre will appreciate the allusions to the earlier works of Sam Raimi, Wes Craven, John Carpenter and, most prominently, Tobe Hooper ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"), this is one fright flick that ultimately coaxes more titters than jitters. Obviously Roth, who makes his feature debut here, would like "Cabin Fever" to stand as a legitimate piece of horror in its own right, but too often potential elements of suspense and true terror are sacrificed for intended laughs (in-jokes and otherwise) that don't always materialize.

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