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First Look: British Horror Flick Eden Lake's Poster
August 8, 2008
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
by Kevin Powers
I'm always up for a good foreign horror movie. Dare I say that these days crossing either pond is almost the only way to find humble gems of the genre. Earlier this year the Weinsteins acquired North American rights to a UK-thriller, Eden Lake, for which Rotten Tomatoes brings us an exclusive first look at the film's UK poster. While importing a scare definitely piques my interest, Eden Lake's poster looks awfully familiar, but I still have hope considering the writer-director's comments to Fangoria back in May. "We show people's heads on fire, neck-stabbing with glass, stomach-slashing revealing intestines and kidneys and metal spikes through feet. Gritty realism in moments of ramped-up tension." Interested?
"When nursery teacher Jenny (Kelly Reilly) escapes to the country for a relaxing weekend away with her boyfriend, she is unaware of a romantic surprise he has in store. The location is perfect. A lake enclosed by woodlands, seemingly deserted. The scene is set for a picturesque proposal. But before the happy couple can enjoy the retreat, their peace is shattered by a gang of violent youths. What begins is a shocking and unrelenting game of cat-and-mouse, as Jenny is forced to fight back against her aggressors."
Now, if you saw the 2006 French horror film, Them, I imagine you have a deja-vu look on your face right about now. That film surrounded a young couple in a secluded, wooded house who was toyed with by a band of psychotic youths, and presumably was the inspiration for The Strangers released earlier this year. In fact, one of the lead nut-jobs chasing down the female protagonist in Them wore a hood the entire time, not unlike the character you can see in the poster. All in all, I think we've been here before.
It's interesting how the poster seems to show four classes of bad dudes. Going from right to left, you seemingly have the regular level-headed guy calmly standing upright, hands in pockets; then there's the hooded, quietly nutty one; then the group's muscle, looming large like he's about to strike; and then the really crazy one, who tilts his head in almost curious amusement. I might be going too far here, but I think the visual hints at a interesting spectrum of villains. If this is true, points to writer and first-time director James Watkins. I'll try not to hold the fact that Watkins is a writer on The Descent 2 against the film.
So what do you think? Is this more or less a rerun, or something worth keeping an eye on? Bear in mind, the couple is played by English actress Kelly Reilly (Pride and Prejudice) and Michael Fassbender, the wild-eyed Spartan from 300. It could be worse, I suppose…
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Reader Feedback - 16 Comments »
1
first comment
looks scary and sounds gory. Most movies like this are lame. Lets hope this one ain't.
Daniel on Aug 8, 2008
2
hell, as long as it isn't an American made horror movie these days, there's a chance it will be good
Mr. Pockets on Aug 8, 2008
3
Pretty much sounds like Ils (Them) and The Strangers.
John D. on Aug 8, 2008
4
here's a link to quiet.earth.com…… they wrote about "Eden lake" a few weeks back and it sounds really cool….europe has much more talent than america when it comes to horror films:
check out this oster…quite disturbing.
http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2008/05/23/First-teaser-poster-and-synopsis-for-British-horror-flick-Eden-Lake-drops
hope SF doesn't mind I'm refering folks out of their web site, but I did hear of QE HERE…so I guess it's ok.
israelidude on Aug 9, 2008
5
OH DAMN I'm on FS, not SF…..getting bllurry from all of this movie sites….sorry guys!!!!
israelidude on Aug 9, 2008
6
sounds like it could be good, there hasn't been a good horror movie for a while i hope this might change that but im not getting my hopes up.
Curtis on Aug 9, 2008
7
8
Do you think this is tapping into fears regarding the current British social climate by any chance?
i.e. middle-class professionals terrorized by "chavs"?
sleepykid on Aug 9, 2008
9
Again, nothing new. Sounds similar to "I Spit On Your Grave" from the 80's.
tommyturner on Aug 9, 2008
10
Idea also reminds me of 'Funny Games' which was quite a movie (original German version anyways, havent seen remake).
dave13 on Aug 9, 2008
12
it sounds like an exact copy of Them which is one of the best horror films i've seen in the last couple of years
Shawn on Aug 10, 2008
13
"but I still have hope considering the writer-director's comments to Fangoria back in May. "We show people's heads on fire, neck-stabbing with glass, stomach-slashing revealing intestines and kidneys and metal spikes through feet. Gritty realism in moments of ramped-up tension"
So is it official now? Gore = horror?
Boo.
Barry on Aug 11, 2008
14
I like the way you've broken down four of the Classes of Bad Dudes. I need to start looking at these posters more closely. heh
kevjohn on Aug 11, 2008
15
saw eden lake the other day and it is tapping into the current terrorism of middle class people by "chavs" but its very real andthesecharacterscould b anyone you know. it was terrifiying i came out of the cinema shaking.
beckie on Sep 27, 2008
16
Just watched this film and having seen "them" last year was a little dissapointed. Eden lake is almost a carbon copy but unfortunately falls down on the cleverness stakes. I found "them" highly entertaining as the tormentors where hidden or unidentifiable and there was hardly any dialogue, which may sound strange for a film, but worked very well. Eden Lake on the other hand goes more for class struggle i.e. chavs versus middle class, but uses some truly horrific disturbing scenes. Like with them, im sure the director and writers could have achieved there goal without subjecting the audience to some really harsh scenes. I did watch the film all the way through but I would only recommend this to sane, strong stomached people. It is certainly not for under 18's which unfortunately i feel will be watched by many.
andrew on Jan 2, 2009