It may not sound like an ideal night out at the cinema but this is scariest British horror film to curse the silver screen in years.
Eden Lake tells the story of typical middle class ‘Ikea’ couple Jenny and Steve who plan a romantic weekend away at a beautiful old quarry that is soon to become a luxury gated community.
“Who are they so afraid of?” says Jenny. Soon it becomes all too clear.
Everything is perfect until they confront a gang of youths about their antisocial behaviour...
Chavs, townies, scallies, hoodies, louts — there are many slang terms to describe the young people that have caused a blaze of controversy in the press for years.
And director James Watkins cleverly plays on those fears (whether they are justified or not) until Eden Lake’s decisive and shocking ending.
The casting is perfect. The youths look like the kind you might find lurking on street corners and tension is on a knife edge as soon as you realise the direction the film is going in.
Unlike the sinister characters in many other horrors, this threat is much more real. They’re not monsters — they are just young people doing monstrous things — and following the aftermath of the Garry Newlove tragedy, it can be a little uncomfortable to watch.
But more than the film itself, it is the message that makes the most impact, highlighting issues like peer pressure, gang culture and the role of parents in the problem society we are living in.
Hard watching but worth it.
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