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Eden Lake (2008)

Director: James Watkins

Time Out rating

Average user rating

113 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

This fierce, thought-provoking ‘survival horror’ movie from ‘My Little Eye’ co-writer James Watkins sounds like a tabloid headline: Lovers’ Lakeside Hoody Horror. The romantic peace of Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender’s remote idyll is shattered by a gang of kids with a loud beat-box and a boisterous Rottweiler. Verbal confrontations escalate into knife-wielding violence, then the couple are hunted and tortured in the surrounding woods.

This is not, however, a Daily Mail rant about feral chavs. Instead, Watkins uses stomach-knotting tension and tongue-slicing horror to explore the complex dynamics of anti-social violence. We identify with the victims throughout, but Watkins also depicts the complex peer-group pressures within the gang and the pain and confusion behind its leader’s eyes. The film’s one major fault is that Reilly’s character repeatedly acts in ways that serve the plot, but which run contrary to rational human behaviour. By contrast, the shattering downbeat ending is well earned and genuinely shocking.

Author: Nigel Floyd

Time Out London Issue 1986, 11-17 Sept

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User reviews of this film

David Sanderson said...

Posted on Dec 09 2011 15:10 Given the state of this country, this is actually believeable.

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raymond said...

Posted on Sep 23 2011 21:52 i loved this movie yes its a strong film but wake up its not that far from true its all around us and we need to open our eyes i will for sure look for more films from mr watkins horry yes reall o yes i wish it was not but it is

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Godfrey Hamilton said...

Posted on Sep 20 2011 08:55 I think that the indignation of viewers like Mr Frenz is somewhat invalidated by the monstrous behaviour of UK's hoodie youth so graphically displayed on our tv screens during the riots. I'd say James Watkins's film is too accurate for many viewers' comfort.

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sandra said...

Posted on Aug 21 2011 00:44 One of the most disgusting films I've seen on Tv...I was sickened by it.This is DEFINITELY NOT entertainment.Do yourself a favour and don't watch it..

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andy said...

Posted on Aug 21 2011 00:43 As a straight forward horror flick it is entertainiing enough,if you like that sort of thing.As a piece of social commentary I think it leaves something to be desired.It makes some interesting points about parental responsibility,or lack thereof,and alienated youth.but is too alarmist and over the top to be taken seriously.

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Lucy said...

Posted on Aug 20 2011 21:40 Myself and my dad watched this film and thought it was absoloutly horrific. It has no relevance at all and I thought it was terrifiying (in a bad way). It made me and my dad feel physically sick and we both that night suffered from bad dreams. I would most certainly not suggest to anyone to watch this film!! It is awful and i'd never watch it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Frank Frenz said...

Posted on Aug 16 2011 23:55 Dreadful middle class horror fantasy.
Awful plot and mostly B movie acting.
This is a film that really makes me angry. Why do middle class directors feel they can demonise the white working classes?
Because they can get away with it!
James Watkins should be ashamed of himself.
FF

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THE WISE said...

Posted on Jul 30 2011 12:21 5 stars by the way. :)) I forgot to rate it sorry.

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THE WISE said...

Posted on Jul 30 2011 12:20 It's a great film. I don't mind if its a bit bloody and disturbing. Or even if kids are the criminals. That happens in the world too. Ever heard of the case where two kids killed a younger little kid, by torturing and tormenting him? They pinned bricks on top of the 4-5 year old kid and left him on the railway, waiting for a train to run him over. The kid was dead before the train hit him. The 2 killer did NOT face life sentence. And a 13-year old killer killing his ex-girlfriend over a bet for breakfast. To be killed by person whom she loves...quite disturbing. The ending to this movie was shocking and amazing. The goal of this movie was not encourage violence or to sicken the audience. It was to question what we humans were capable of. It was very well done, suspense and horror gripped me from start to finish. I did not like the story, it was upsetting. But I greatly loved the movie. One of the best horror story I have ever seen. It did not put in some crazy psyco maniac killer nor some stupid ghosts or an out of this world creature to do the dirty work. Nor some overacted human killer. It was a piece of our own world. Things that have been done and things that will probably be done again. Pure genius.

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Steve k said...

Posted on May 28 2011 00:07 Fantastic I loved it ! entertaining from start to finish ! not to be taken too seriously as disturbing in parts but very entertaining.

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Steve k said...

Posted on May 28 2011 00:04 I loved this film, fantasic ! Entertainment is supposed to be just that ! and it entertained me from start to finish !

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naim yadally said...

Posted on Apr 25 2011 19:12 Am from Mauritius. As for the acting, it was ok. But i'm scared if some teens in uk are really that way, or the film's ending might give teens a real sense of power.

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Robert said...

Posted on Mar 24 2011 09:02 There's already near-lethal stress in today's world, and most of us watch movies to take a brief holiday from it. Horror movies are only supposed to give our adrenal glands a little hit, then end positively so unconsciously we are assured that all the little horrors of our own daily lives will also turn out okay in the end. Such "entertainments" and NOT supposed to lure us in, drag us through a sadistic wringer, then simply spit us out -- psychologically tortured like its characters -- with no feeling of relief in sight. The only positive thing that can be said of this movie is that the performances are outstanding. Everything else is nothing more than celluloid depravity that wounds the heart and soul of any viewer with healthy sensitivity.

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nel07s said...

Posted on Mar 09 2011 03:24 i honestly like the movie! i can say this might happen in the real setting., why?, review the activities the youth or the children of today, it is very evident that children are exposed to violent scenarios., the child in the movie is egocentric in the sense that he killed an individual just because his dog died.? some said it is unrealistic..., it might be true literally but going into the deeper sense, the movie presents the concepts of the psychoanalytic theory of freud' - ied, ego, superego. also, it is very evident that the child can kill so as long as with the father or the parents., i think it is in line with how the child is being reared

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courtney said...

Posted on Feb 13 2011 01:17 gross just gross that all i have to say sick

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