Eden Lake (2008) Reviews

• Frustratingly cruel, not easy to watch.

  nitzanhavoc2013-04-02

  It's been a long time since I've seen this film, during the time when I still didn't bother to rate and review every Horror film I watch. Lately I've been re-watching some of those I liked especially, but as for Eden Like - I'll pass. Not because it isn't good, but because nobody in their right mind would define it as "fun to watch", that much I do remember. However, what I remember most vividly is my utter sense of frustration, disgust and despair with humanity. Throughout the film I've kept feeling the urge to be there, so I could knock some hard painful sense into those no good hoodlums, and their sad excuse for parents! Very much like this decade's streak of "torture porn", Eden Lake plays on these emotions in the audience. Pity for the victim, rage against the assailants, and despair/helplessness. Acting and cinematography are good enough, nothing special worth mentioning as far as I can remember (bear in mind it's been a while), but the story and some of the scenes are what sticks with you afterwords. Personally, I can't call the sensations I get out of watching these kinds of films "fun", but they are definitely, in a way, rewarding. Eden Lake isn't easy to watch, and seeing as how this is obviously its goal - it's a success. My relatively low rate is only on account of my personal experience with it.

• Breaks you down

  cookie6662009-06-30

  I can't remember the last time a film evoked such raw emotions in me. I'm literally teared up and shaking - from anger, pain, frustration and disbelief. Watching this film is an experience more than words can describe, it plays on pure emotion. You're sucked into the whole atmosphere, to the characters - both the good and the bad -, and it really eats you up and leaves you with this bundle of emotions that catch you off guard and in the end, leave you empty-handed. I'm sorry for not being very precise about the plot and the characters, but I simply can't write an ordinary "this film opens with..." review, the experience was just too much. I highly recommend it, but not for the weak-hearted.

• Unsavory

  lsouseisekil2012-04-19

  Eden Lake masquerades as a touching and dark film BUT it is quite the opposite. I, like another reviewer, had to register just to express my deep disappointment in this film. Sure, it starts off with a normal setting which you, as someone who is most likely used to the typical spiral into chaos, would expect. This however, turns into complete ridiculousness. The acting was such that, one feels that the characters themselves had NO faults and that it was Mr. Watkins who cruelly killed off such well-to-do people. Several things about this movie disturbed me: 1) Upon having his tire ruined, Steve should have immediately packed up their belongs and leave the Chav-nest. 2) Why did Steve fail to arm himself while trapped in the car OR as he presumably escaped from said vehicle? Not only does Steve fail to arm himself but Jenny does as well. The chavs had no problem toting around branches whereas Jenny abandoned every weapon she obtained. 3) Steve fails to put up much of a fight and is felled with relative ease. He managed to break free AFTER being stabbed virtually to death? Mr. Watkins, I call shenanigans!! 4)Jenny FAILS to get help when prompted to initially. She then calls for help via Steve's stolen phone. This is a major plot-hole as only a true buffoon would make such a bad judgment. 5) The ending especially leaves a sour taste in ones mouth as Jenny coincidentally winds up at the chav-den. This completely made me want to flip my table. Too much of a coincidence resulting in the film being very upsetting.

• If you like movies about adults acting like pathetic idiots, this one is for you!

  melancholy_rose2011-09-11

  I just recently saw a movie called "The Children," where all of the adults acted like whimpering babies as their 30 pound sandbag kids murdered them. Gangs of little eight-year-old children killed their parents, and all they did was cry about it and get angry at each other if they tried to hurt the "darling babies." That movie enraged me, and so does this one. I don't understand it a single, solitary bit. The whole story in this film exists simply because the adults are idiots and make stupid decisions. They are outsmarted by malicious 12-year-old kids, and not only do they allow this to happen, they practically ask for it. It was so unbearable sitting through it, because I was angry throughout the entire thing, watching as two grown human beings bend over and present their wimpy rear-ends to a bunch of resentful, spoiled rotten youths. It wouldn't annoy me so much if the whole "main characters getting themselves into danger because they're morons" philosophy wasn't so popular in films these days. I kept thinking to myself that if I had been in their situation, I would-- oh wait, I wouldn't be in their situation, because I'm not an idiot. Watching an hour and a half of whimpering little ninnies crawl around pathetically was one of the most frustrating things I had to endure. I love horror films. I love tension, suspense, and mystery-- especially mystery. This wasn't any of those things. It was garbage, and I'm baffled at how anyone could enjoy it. At so many points, I wanted to shut the thing off and say "forget it, I don't care how it ends, these characters are too pathetic and stupid," but I sat through it to see if maybe, possibly, justice would be served, and those who had their comeuppance would get brutally massacred beyond recognition, if they would suffer the same method the main characters did. I was hoping for such a result, but one never came. It was blundering, bumbling idiocy for the remainder of the movie. The ending was terrible, and it left you feeling a sense of unresolved conflict, with a bitter taste in your mouth akin to that of eating a mouthful of raw eggs and cinnamon. I was actually confused when I saw it, thinking, "wait, is that it? THAT is the ending?!" Then I felt even angrier. How could someone write this trash and make it into a film? I guarantee the script said something like this: Adults: Hey kids, I'm sorry to harsh your buzz, but we're trying to have a good time, here, so do you mind moving? Kids: F**K OFF!! Adults: Oh... okay... that's fine. Kids ruin adults' lives. Adults run from kids and cry and suffer horrific injury. FIN! If you're like me, and movies like this anger you, I beseech you to stay away. Please. Don't watch this movie.

• Horrible movie....

  smith-stu-856-312742010-10-07

  I am a massive horror movie fan but this movie left me completely cold. It is mean spirited, cold, and above all else unbelievably frustrating and stupid at times. On the plus side the film is very well acted by all involved, and very well made. But such is the lack of logic in places and the complete lack of a satisfying pay off that any merits are quickly outweighed. For example: we have a lead character here that thinks its okay to wonder around other peoples homes without their consent. The other lead then does the most bizarre and random thing with a mobile phone that any suspension of disbelief is lost and the only appropriate response is 'doh'. And as for the ending! After so much horror and terrorisation I was expecting a decent pay off. But instead we get a downbeat, nihilistic sign off that has become popular in modern horror. I may be missing the point somewhat here, but all in all I just found the experience unpleasant. All I can really say is that this is a movie you should really see for yourself. I hated it, but it seems to work for some people.