Review of Eden Log (2007) by Ralph G — 24 Jun 2009

Saw the trailer for this and thought it looked cool, so I grabbed it. Overall, Eden Log is the kind of movie that screams for a bigger budget. The acting was on par with most lower budget films as were the effects. The little CG that was used was terrible. The thing this film has going for it is the dark and depressing atmosphere it creates which at times seems very familiar. For some reason I kept drawing comparisons to the movie "Cube". Unfortunately, Eden Log lacks everything Cube succeeds with and ultimately becomes a mess in the final act, leaving you wondering if your time could have been spent better doing something else. Was the venture worth the gain? Nope!

Understanding the simple building blocks of modern cinema is important when crafting a film like this. Often times film makers get so caught up in their own arrogance trying to make the "intelligent" film, that they don't realize that the majority of your audience isn't going to get it. If you're going to leave shit out, at least leave enough clues that the audience doesn't get bored or frustrated with the film. A flip ending doesn't always work, your audience has to enjoy the ride to get to that ending.