Eden Lake (18)
FULLY deserving its adults-only certificate for the uncompromising nature of its violence, this is, on the face of it, just another slasher horror movie with a British flavour.
But, like the nauseating knife sequences, it all ends up going a little bit deeper than that.
Written and directed by James Watkins – the writer of My Little Eye (2002) and the forthcoming sequel to The Descent – Eden Lake’s chilling menace also gives the underbelly of modern Britain a severe kicking. And with good reason, too.
Surrey-born 31-year-old actress Kelly Reilly is the star of the show as Jenny, the woman-in-peril.
Along with boyfriend Steve (Michael Fassbender), they are a couple determined to enjoy their camping weekend at a remote spot. That means trying to ignore the local yobs, who include Cooper played by Thomas Turgoose (This Is England).
Some of Steve and Jenny’s decision making is laughable, such as when he goes skinny dipping despite the presence of the oiks so close to his intended.
But, if we are to believe that Britain is still a free country where you can go where you like without fear, Steve surely has every right to do that.
Watkins keeps a tight rein on the suspense and also ups the violence factor to the point that he even includes a horrific ‘necklace’ killing.
It’s all very unpleasant, yet Watkins deserves credit for trying to illustrate where today’s feral youths have come from.
* www.edenlakemovie.co.uk
