Dimension
Extreme
Madman
Entertainment
R4 DVD
Warp X is a British production company
working to make exhilarating films with outstanding new and established
creative talent. They offer genre movies with an original twist and creative
signature and if Eden Lake is a sign of what is to come they have a great
future in front of them. Eden Lake is
the debut from James Watkins who also wrote the script and it is certainly a
powerful and confronting way to make your mark. Eden Lake is not a horror film
based on monsters, ghosts or supernatural themes; it is based on the most frightening
and potentially destructive animal of all, man. It is brutal, vicious and
visceral, there are scenes which will make you want to look away but something
compels you to keep watching. Yes, it is fair to say the violence is extreme,
but it is in the context of a well defined plot and hence I believe it is
justified.
Steve and Jenny need some time away and
take a break at Eden Lake in the English countryside where Steve plans to
propose. Things don’t go well, the locals are obnoxious, and the room they rent
on their first night is situated next to a very loud tenant. As they attempt to
relax by the lake their calm is interrupted by a gang of six teens playing loud
music, behaving badly and refusing to control their aggressive dog. While Jenny
has the common sense to suggest they simply move to another location, Steve has
something to prove and decides to confront them; a very bad move.
Soon verbal abuse leads to their SUV being
vandalized and finally it is stolen when Steve stupidly leaves his keys in the
ignition. Steve accidently kills Brett’s dog and the gang is now out for
revenge. Brett has an obsessive attachment to his dog and is wants blood to pay
for its death. He is out of control and manipulates the members of his gang
using violence and fear.
In a truly harrowing scene Steve is
captured and tied up with barbed wire and each member of the gang is encouraged
to slash him with knives or other weapons while Brett’s girlfriend records it
all on a mobile phone. This is a terrifying portrayal of the power of one
individual over a group and the way in which peer pressure can lead to the most
extreme form of behaviour.
The character development in Eden Lake is
exceptional. Steve and Jenny are credible as you see them fighting for their
lives. Jack O’ Connell as Brett offers a truly masterful performance,
especially considering his young age. The suspense of the chase, the inability
to get away, the desire to escape with no exit in sight are all used to maximum
effect in this chilling film.
While this plot is not particularly
original, the mixture of solid character development, excellent cinematography
and very realistic violence makes this a powerful horror film.
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This review will appear in Volume 2 No.5 (2009) of the digital and
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