Review of Eden (2013) by Dave J — 19 Feb 2014

Tuesday, February 18, 2014.

(2013) Eden.

CRIME THRILLER.

Co-written and directed by Megan Griffiths starring Jamie Chung as South Korean American Hyun Jae, but is given the name "Eden" by her abductors- hence the title. Based on a book written by Chong-Kim called "Chong Kim: A Trafficking Survivor's Dramatic Story" which the set up has Eden getting abducted while drinking at a local bar in New Mexico, and the next thing you know the movie then dwells on the details of torture tactics inflicted by her abductors for the rest of the film, as well as to many other abducted young women, particularly from a junkie named Vaughan(Matt O'Leary). Watching this movie is like watching a 'Japanese torture movie' since it can be graphic. You can think of the worst kind of scenario to be inflicted to these women and believe me, it's either shown or implied here. It's like the 'holocaust' and slavery coming back to life all over again which the women are treated as less than human. The reason why I wasn't impressed because despite all of these despicable acts, the movie doesn't offer any satisfying closure, nor any resolution in regarding her captors. I mean, do we have to 'Google' this kind of information when the makers can tell us here. All this means is that some of the events may have been altered to keep viewers glued, for viewers are kept in the dark, asking the question whether or not this human trafficking ring was ever linked to the top. And the answer to that, is viewers are going to have to find that kind of information for ourselves, since the movie won't tell us here. And veteran actor Beau Bridges also stars as corrupt Sheriff Bob Gault. Viewers can always get to see the atrocities of movies all the time - it's easy to show this, but for some reason it's much harder to see them get punish for committing these crimes in the first place.

2 out of 4 stars.