Name: A Classic Horror Story
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Released: 2021-07-01T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Matilda Lutz, Francesco Russo, Peppino Mazzotta, Will Merrick, Yuliia Sobol

The first shot of A Classic Horror Story lingers on a rusted RV swaying in the wind, its tires half-buried in dirt—an image that screams “trap” before the characters even step out. This 2021 Italian horror flick, streaming exclusively on Netflix, knows exactly what it is: a love letter to cabin-in-the-woods tropes, albeit one with a few too many nods and not enough original blood. Directed by Roberto De Feo and Paolo Strippoli, the film stars Matilda Lutz as Elisa, a woman seeking an abortion, alongside Francesco Russo as Fabrizio, the smarmy travel blogger driving their ill-fated journey.

From its opening moments, A Classic Horror Story wastes no time thrusting its five travelers into a nightmare. A car crash, a vanishing road, an impenetrable forest—these are the building blocks of countless horror stories, and A Classic Horror Story leans hard into that familiarity. The early scenes brim with tension, particularly when the group stumbles upon the crucified scarecrows, their pig heads dripping with grotesque symbolism. The film’s visual slickness shines here, with tight framing and eerie lighting amplifying every creak of the cabin.

But where A Classic Horror Story excels in atmosphere, it falters in execution. The pacing stumbles midway through, lingering too long on exposition-heavy flashbacks and drawn-out torture sequences that lose their shock value. The reveal of Fabrizio’s betrayal is a highlight—Lutz’s Elisa delivering her confrontational monologue with raw desperation—but the buildup feels overstuffed. The film borrows liberally from The Evil Dead, Midsommar, and The Cabin in the Woods, but it never fully commits to its own identity.

The performances are a mixed bag. Lutz stands out as the conflicted Elisa, her emotional range grounding the film in humanity. Francesco Russo’s Fabrizio is serviceable as the smug blogger turned traitor, but the supporting cast struggles to make an impact. Will Merrick’s Mark is particularly flat, his death scene lacking the visceral punch it should. Yuliia Sobol’s Sofia and Peppino Mazzotta’s Riccardo fare slightly better, but their arcs feel underdeveloped, reduced to mere plot devices in the cult’s sinister rituals.

The film’s biggest sin? It plays it too safe. While it borrows elements from horror classics, it never fully commits to its own identity. The cult’s rituals feel like a pastiche rather than something with weight or meaning, and the final act devolves into a series of increasingly ludicrous set pieces that strain credibility. The film’s climax, involving Elisa trapped in a control room, feels like a desperate attempt to inject some sci-fi intrigue into an otherwise straightforward horror narrative.

A Classic Horror Story isn’t without merit—its craftsmanship is undeniable, and it delivers moments of genuine dread. But it’s too beholden to its influences to stand on its own. The film’s homage to classic horror tropes will appeal to genre enthusiasts, but casual viewers might find it derivative. The retro Italian intro music, criticized by some reviewers, actually adds a layer of campy charm that fits the film’s self-aware tone.

Thematically, A Classic Horror Story explores themes of betrayal, desperation, and the loss of control. Elisa’s journey to get an abortion adds a layer of personal stakes, but the film struggles to weave this narrative thread into its broader horror elements effectively. The cult’s motivations remain vague, and their rituals feel more like a series of shocking images than a cohesive belief system.

In terms of direction, De Feo and Strippoli demonstrate a keen eye for visual storytelling, particularly in the film’s early scenes. However, their pacing falters as the story progresses, and some sequences feel unnecessarily drawn out. The film’s use of sound is noteworthy, with eerie children’s music and sudden silences creating moments of palpable tension.

Ultimately, A Classic Horror Story is a solid but unremarkable entry in the horror genre. It delivers on atmosphere and craftsmanship but lacks the originality and depth to stand out among its peers.