Review of Eden Lake (2008) by Djalex — 12 Aug 2010

I gace this film a 5 and not a zero because of the fine work of the actors, editors, cameramen and other technicians.

In fact, even the directing is good for its purpose. This kind of film puts me on the fence because the acting, directing, and editing are all very good in a lot of these kinds of films. You believe its happening while you watch and you suspect this kind of thing could possibly happen... at least while the film's tension is making you grit your teeth. On the other hand, the whole point of the film and what it suggests is what ruins it. This is torture porn or what I call "The cruelty genre" where humans have absolutely no regard for another human and behave in ways that are very unrealistic in the scope of real life situations. The films character's become so focused on their cruel needs that nothing in the real world intercedes like hunger, boredom, fatigue, distractions, changes in loyalty the fact that someone might sneeze. once the cruel characters start their mission they become demons that never faulter in their quest to inflict harm on the protagonists and this is just stupid. We have seen films make a fine point with extreme violence and the social monsters we create in neglected environments (clockwork orange). How many more of these films do we need to see where the only point is pure manipulation of the audience. The only point is tension itself. There is an old commercial made in the states for Dupont by the agency Young & Rubicam where a voice over tells you how a material made by Dupont is incredibly temperature neutral. They show a metal box made of this material. they show a bunson burner boiling water. they put a baby chick in the box and place the box holding the live chick in the boiling water and the voice over speaks very languidly about the product. the tension is enormous as you feel you are watching this poor little chick die. then they take the box out and the chick is perfectly fine. They sold me. amazing. what is this film selling me? fear and hatred toward the neglected class? please. How many more filmmakers are going to try and say the same thing using human cruelty as their medium. if you need to see this message expressed watch "Funny Games" it has a point and it makes you squirm. IT is probably the last film that should ever be made about callous and mindless cruelty.