Dir. James Watkins, 87mins, UK, 2008
Cast: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Jack O’Connell, Thomas Turgoose, Bronson Webb, Finn Atkins
Review by Matthew Rodgers
If you go down to the woods today, and by woods, think of the thousands of multiplex screens saturated with your latest torture porn (the forthcoming Saw V) or tepid remake (Prom Night), you will find a small British movie from first-time director, James Watkins that at first will seem derivative of standout genre pics such as The Descent, you may even sigh at the thought of the lone girl-in-peril scenario and redtop-baiting subject matter, but look through those branches of discontent and you will experience one of the nastiest, wince-inducing and downright brilliant, little horror gems in a while.
Rom-com couple Steve (Fassbender) and Jenny (Reilly) take a weekend break from “the big smoke” and head to a soon to be redeveloped beauty spot, Eden Lake. Now, the fact that the location sign has graffiti smeared on the back and their own satnav prompts them to turn back tells us that this isn’t going to be a picnic for our picture-perfect couple. But what’s lurking in the woods waiting for them? Could it be something as relentless as Leatherface, or as ubiquitous as The Blair Witch? Nope, it is in fact a group of sports-leisure wearing, Argos jewellery adorned, Asbo collecting “hoodies”. You’ll agree that is a truly terrifying prospect, and if you don’t, after the horrific events have unfolded at Eden Lake, even a trip to a Texan slaughterhouse would be a welcome alternative.
Sharing the sensibilities of '70s low-key splatterfests – group enter location and suffer varying degrees of demise – and having the grimy, almost amateur look akin to BBFC-baiter I Spit On Your Grave, Eden Lake is a B-Movie horror that tackles contemporary issues. Knife crime is high on the government agenda and blades are used to sickening effect, “happy slapping” is also prevalent with one of the young “oiks” filming the unfurling terror on her mobile. And as the Lord of the Flies aura and very unsettling ending suggest: Are the parents to blame? Don’t get too caught up in the sensationalist talking points that the current climate dictates though, because at its lightning pulsed heart, this is simply an exercise in sustained terror with a twist.
Watkins must be praised for keeping the 'ick' factor high without reverting to the in-your-face technique of Eli Roth’s Hostel films. The torture scenes push decency to the limit without being too explicit, however the suffering inflicted upon a barbed-wire bound Fassbender is best watched through thinly-spread fingers.
He and Reilly do a fantastic job in creating a likeable couple, though slightly stupid in terms of horror movie decision making, we all know how important it is to care about those on the receiving end in this genre. Reilly believably morphs from tepid teacher into a shit-splattered heroine as the revoltingly vindictive yobs, led by the superb O’Connell, pursue her through to the bitter end.
Eden Lake is refreshing, if a little clichéd, and certainly trumps the recent and extremely lackadaisical, The Strangers in terms of direction, tension and cheap scares (there are no cat-in-the-cupboard moments on offer here). Highly recommended horror.
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