Eden Lake (18)

Film

eden_4.jpg

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
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Time Out says

Tue Sep 9 2008

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.
99+

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Release details

Rated:

18

UK release:

Fri Sep 12, 2008

Duration:

91 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

James Watkins

Screenwriter:

James Watkins

Cast:

Thomas Turgoose, Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Bronson Webb

Music:

David Julyan

Cinematography:

Christopher Ross

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 3/5 (66 ratings)
  • After reading through some of these appauling reviews, it kind of makes you want to laugh doesn't it? When films are pressured into having traditional american - fairty tale endings then are ripped apart for it, but when the brutal truth of the ending of this film lives up to our fatalism it's a disgrace? I understand a major flaw with this film is that Jenny's actions are hardly realistic, but the deeply haunting ending? that in a sense is what saves this film. I wouldn't totally disagree with some of the comments I read, but to say it promotes teen crime is completly absurd

    Elise Fri Mar 22
    Rated as: 4/5
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  • Worst Ending Movie. I hate it. Do not want to watch it more. Just wasting my time. Shit Movie Ending.. I agree to people who says this is a bad movie..

    jacknaville Tue Dec 18 2012
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  • I think it was really good. Totally played with my morale is like there was no other way to survive than killing the kids.(God that I wanted to). The fact they are kids is what makes the movie so interesting because if they were adults you could you kill them and that's it.

    ivan Tue Oct 9 2012
    Rated as: 4/5
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  • This film was awesome. So real, gritty and scary. One of my favourite films :)

    Dallas Funkydunk Fri Sep 21 2012
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • This movie has pissed me off since the beginning. Nobody in their right mind would let this shit happen to their husband/Fiance/Boyfriend and stand there and watch. The scenes are to long and dragged out to even keep me interested. I found myself fast forwarding through scenes just because of the stupidity of the actors. Constantly falling down, tripping, helplessness and screaming in agony when the enemy is so close caused me to become irritated at the film to the point where I am writing this WHILE STILL WATCHING IT. Couldn't even wait till the end to type up how much garbage this film was. Would not recommend it to anyone, and as the story goes I would imagine the ending just as shitty as the other 90% of the film.

    Matthew Thu Sep 13 2012
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  • Shitty movie!!what adult doesn't know you should never show fear to a kid or a bunch of kids??its very unrealistic,as a grown arse man and woman,should be able to handle even 10 brats!and apologizing for the dog dying??really?seriously?the little fuckers brought the knife to the game and released the dog as well...why would anyone apologise for defending themselves?total and utter bullshit,for my culture anyway...having lived in the UK,I can say it is very plausible for shit like this to happen..hah!!mingy kids!!just did not make any sense,they seemed like two whiny cowards(only a gun should stop you dead in your tracks,anything else?lets play...)

    Ash Fri Aug 10 2012
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  • Worst movie ever, like wtf .......... The bitches are alive, the good one die, and wtf (it was only a kid) fuck ur self, at that age u can chose ur wich way. stupid bitch. Would be a great movie if all the little scrubs were dead

    bryan0250 Sun Aug 5 2012
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • Further to my previous comment - not only should those responsible for creating this film be ashamed of themselves, but also they should be criminally prosecuted for promoting socially irresponsible criminal behaviour in young people. Sedition to terrorism is illegal, yet sedition to criminal irresponsibility in the young is not? I find that hard to believe. In fact, I think that this film may break some British laws. I may even consider performing a literature search of my own to see which one(s), such is my hatred for this film and its criminal irresponsibility.

    Bryan Sat Jul 7 2012
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  • I think this film is disgusting. If it has a message, it seems to be that kids can behave like scum without any fear of negative consequences to themselves. This film should be banned because it is in such poor taste. Imagine if I made a film in which a paedophile raped and killed children and got away with it? Or a film about Maddie McCann being abducted, raped, and tortured, with the killer getting away with it and being really smug and happy with themself? Eden Lake is in the same category as that kind of film. Thus, the content is such that it should be both banned and destroyed. I hate this film, and I think everyone involved in its creation is irresponsible and should be ashamed of themselves.

    Bryan Sat Jul 7 2012
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  • i don't like the ending !!! i would like all those fucking kidds die and their fucking shit parents die . otherwise there is no point to watch this shit film

    james Sun May 20 2012
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