Directed by James Watkins
Review based upon a theatrical preview in 2008
It's fair to say that this is by no means an easy film to watch. In standard horror movie speak, that traditionally means buckets of gore, torture, violence and jump scares that inevitably results in revulsion. However, "Eden Lake" is very different. It can be appreciated purely for its' use of genre staples, but to really understand James Watkins' directorial debut (he penned the excellent "My Little Eye" in 2001) you have to be able to consider how intelligent and current the whole piece is.
Set in the south of England, "Eden Lake" is arguably a standard revenge flick. It opens with the two protagonists Jenny (Kelly Reilly) and Steve (Michael Fassbender) seeking a getaway at an isolated lakeside location. Unknown to Jenny, her boyfriend is planning this trip to be perfect marriage proposal. But, of course, along the way things run far from smoothly. The townsfolk are more than just a little bit unwelcoming; the menace in the air throughout those early scenes is not only completely believable but also entirely palpable.
When they arrive at their final destination (the "Eden Lake" of the title), they encounter a twisted and abhorrent group of locals who set out to make their trip anything but romantic. Pretty soon, both Jenny and Steve are running for their lives deeper and deeper into the forest – isolated, lost and alone.
So far, so typical. Except the group seeking to destroy the lives of this very average middle-class couple is not simply another "Texas Chainsaw" or "Hills Have Eyes" mutated family. This group of abhorrent evil are all children, ranging from 12 through to 18.
It is in this plot device that the genius of the flick lies. What Watkins has achieved (as both writer and director here) is to tap into a genuinely current conceit and make
a razor-sharp point about the state of Britain in 2008. Through some truly incredible performances from the young cast, the antagonists (a group of completely believable hoodies led by the sadistic Brett) are without a doubt some of the most dislikeable villains I can remember in many years.Here is a genre film with a vital social and political point to make, which is that both children and their behaviours are an absolute reflection of their parents. The moment in the first half of the movie where Steve has a direct confrontation with one of the mothers in a café, is a brilliant example of what Watkins is trying to say; that instead of supporting the evidently repulsive behaviour demonstrated by tearaway kids in our society, parents should discipline them effectively and take some element of responsibility.
There are some truly memorable moments in "Eden Lake", such as the chilling use of mobile phones to record their violence for prosperity and Jenny's attempt to escape by following the power lines, which has disastrous consequences and leaves the audience wincing aloud in it's wake.
After the screening I attended, Watkins made it very clear that he wasn't concerned by the reacti
on of the British press to his sentiments within the film. I suspect that he is right to have this attitude, as it will inevitably be savaged by the likes of 'The Daily Mail' who will most likely accuse "Eden Lake" of leading to copycat behaviour. Not surprisingly, such a view is completely inaccurate: this far from glamorises the villains, and the ending packs such a punch that I defy anyone not to keep thinking about it for days afterwards."Eden Lake" deserves to do well at the box office, and I really hope that it gets the wide audience that it deserves. Beautifully shot, tense and well paced, the film shows that everyone involved is a major talent to be watched. Crucially, the movie taps into a serious issue and actually makes a valid point about what the generation gap is doing to British society. As a result, "Eden Lake" is one of the most important British horror films for many years, and deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. This gruelling, grimy horror-thriller is one of the best flicks of 2008, and is a movie that an audience cannot simply watch; they have to experience it.
9 out of 10
A truly terrifying and affecting revenge movie with brilliant performances and an ending that sticks around for days... one of the most remarkable horror films of 2008
