Uproxx reported that "Cabin Fever" drew "better-than-average" reviews. The performances from the leads were complimented by critics as "solid" and "adequate". Their roles, however, were met with negative reactions: IGN and the "Los Angeles Times" Manohla Dargis described them, respectively, as stereotypical and "monumentally irritating". Furthermore, IGN and Dargis criticized the film's lack of scares, delivering more jokes and gore. Stephen Holden of "The New York Times" and Peter Travers of "Rolling Stone" disagreed; Holden said "Cabin Fever" "finds an unusually potent blend of dread, gore and gallows humor", and Travers called it "a blast of good gory fun that just won't quit". Kim Newman in "Empire" and Maitland McDonagh in "TV Guide" awarded "Cabin Fever" three stars out of five.