MovieChat Forums > Eden Lake (2008) Discussion > A true insult to intelligence

A true insult to intelligence

posted 9 years ago by ricsim78
20 replies | jump to latest

Where do I even begin with this one?

Me and my wife just saw this movie and we both actually got pissed off at the stupidity of the main characters.

So okay, some kids ruin your quiet, romantic getaway. I get it, I would be annoyed too. But how can anyone be scared by this movie and the only thing I can say is if you are as stupid as Steve and Jenny, you deserve what you get!

-You leave your bag with your car keys in the wide open, after confronting teenagers and suspect they popped your car tire. It is always a good idea to leave all your valuables in the wide open.

-You enter a wide-open (wtf too) house without knocking and waiting at the front door. Because trespassing inside a stranger's house (that you do not know whether or not it is occupied) is the smartest thing to do.

-You can easily get in and out with the car and non-working GPS, but you get trapped in the woods, like a rat. A short drive requires miles and miles of being lost in the woods.

-You hide in the worst (and most obvious) possible places and wonder why you keep being found. This includes all places that have no escape except one way.

-Drop every possible weapon you can, including a tire iron you could have used to kill every single one of them, or at least teach them that you are not worth the broken bones or stab wounds.

-You stand by and watch your boyfriend get tortured and do not do a thing. No, do not grab 100's of possible weapons and intervene. Or at least make a sound to draw them off by throwing something. Just watch them torture the love of your life.

-Instead of following the construction fence, which means you are almost out, you go through it and hide in yet another obvious place. You leave a nice, heavy fire extinguisher that you could have used to bust open the door. You get held back by a chain that a heavy stick used as a pry could open, or just kick the door in. It is better to waste time and get your jacket stuck

-The whole town is unfriendly, creepy, and has obvious child abuse. You are not welcome, yet stick around and wonder why you have problems.

I could go on and on, but the movies has too much stupidity to provide entertainment. The supernatural intelligence and tracking ability of the teens in the woods, even with the stupidity displayed. The convenient spike that just happens to be sticking out of the ground so Jenny can step on it while running.

The only good thing was the attractiveness of Jenny, super hot and an awesome body. But her outfit was kind of a flaunt for that as well, with her boobs prominently displayed. Best part of the movie, in fact the only good part.

[–] thulk01 9 years ago

It's a horror movie, usually the characters are going to be pretty stupid. If they were smart, they wouldn't have gone camping in some rundown town in the middle of nowhere by themselves ... so there would've been no movie.

If they were slightly smarter but still wanted to take the risk, they would've taken a gun or some other weapon(s) with them and then used those weapons to defend themselves as soon as the kids attacked ... so the movie would've been about 20 minutes long.

The other movie that really annoyed me with the stupid characters was the Texas Chainsaw remake. The girl hits Leatherface and he's down on the ground dazed, it's well within her power to grab the weapon 2 feet away from her and kill him, but instead she just screams and cries until he gets up and kills her.

It would be nice to see a horror with extremely intelligent characters making rational decisions and to see how they react when thrust into dangerous situations. If you know anything like that, let me know!

[–] William_Henry_Pratt 9 years ago

Sinister and The Shining come to mind as Horror films that have credible characters. The issue with Horror is that many examples in this genre are 'written' by complete novices or someone out to make a quick buck, therefore not interested in creating compelling characters and plot lines. Just hackneyed scares.

[–] Nobbes 9 years ago

If they were slightly smarter but still wanted to take the risk, they would've taken a gun or some other weapon(s) with them and then used those weapons to defend themselves as soon as the kids attacked

It's Great Britain not the USA. A knife would be possible. But they did'nt expect such a hostile clash.

[–] thulk01 9 years ago

How do people defend themselves over there? Even if you have a knife, if there are 5 guys coming at you who also have knives it's going to be pretty hard to get out of that, assuming you're not Bruce Lee. What do people usually do for self defense?

[–] joolzypops-36594 9 years ago

Run like fu**

[–] masurra 9 years ago

Ha ha the american perspective I presume?

How do you defend yourself if you don't bring your concealed Sig P2022 just executing them chavs when they started mouthing off?

Unfortunately Europe is getting more and more violent so I fear we will move more and more towards the US when it comes to firearms.

I think the movie's most stupid premise is that they didn't choose to go back to London after visiting the Cafe in the small town being treated like scum by the locals. I would have taken any chances with my woman in that situation.

_______
"if seagal was thinner this could have been a theatrical product."

[–] overflowzj 8 years ago

I don't know, might have something to do with the fact that nobody else manages to pull off Western violence, stupidity and hatred like the yanks.

I know that there is violence everywhere, but I have managed 30 years without a gun and STILL haven't been stabbed or shot.

[–] lenoritakix 8 years ago

It would be nice to see a horror with extremely intelligent characters making rational decisions and to see how they react when thrust into dangerous situations. If you know anything like that, let me know!

watch the first Wrong Turn movie

[–] Navaros 8 years ago

It would be nice to see a horror with extremely intelligent characters making rational decisions and to see how they react when thrust into dangerous situations. If you know anything like that, let me know!

The Thing (1982) should fix you right up with that.

[–] matthew-vaughn-141-344338 8 years ago

"It would be nice to see a horror with extremely intelligent characters making rational decisions and to see how they react when thrust into dangerous situations. If you know anything like that, let me know!"

Try Green Room!

[–] wakedemons3 9 years ago

A few of your points are right on, but some are silly as hell. For instance:

You stand by and watch your boyfriend get tortured and do not do a thing. No, do not grab 100's of possible weapons and intervene.

That would be idiotic. There were 5 teenagers armed with knives, and one of her, a 112 pound woman with no weapon. What she should have done is not be in that clearing at all. She should have hiked out the night before and called for help like her boyfriend told her to when he was trapped in the car.

Also, their beach bag with the keys in it was just among a bunch of other belongings and they were 17 feet away in the water. That wasn't stupid either.

Are you not entertained?!

[–] gryg-58 9 years ago

I like your rage. I really like it.

[–] hawkknight88-1 9 years ago

It was truly awful. The characters were too stupid to be relatable. I gave it 2 stars because the jerk-kid was good at his part and I liked the ending. I pretty much hated the rest of it.

[–] MarilynM0814 8 years ago

Bravo! I noticed every one of those plot points - when I got to the fire extinguisher I burst out laughing. The only thing positive I can say about this film is that most brutal crimes such as this do start off innocuously and by the time it has escalated, there's no going back.

However...I felt no sympathy for this couple for all the reasons you pointed out - he turned off their radio, killed their dog (granted the kid pulled a knife), broke into the house, etc. And when the woman stood there doing NOTHING while he was being tortured, I screamed obscenities at her. I like to get emotionally involved in films but I was taken OUT Of the movie with that scene. One you didn't mention - following the bullied little boy back into the woods while he is obviously texting the kids. And please, who DIDN'T know she was at the family's house...

Ironically, my cable froze as she was being attacked by the family. I just turned it off. I knew she was killed by them. It would have been even more idiotic if she had shown the video on the phone and survived. No wonder no one came to help them in the woods, everyone (including the audience) wanted them dead.

[–] mjbqcn_acma 8 years ago

I watched this movie yesterday, and totally agree with what you shared. Actually I had watched an Indian Version "NH 10" of it. That was far better than this and was logical. I thought it would be more better that NH 10, the Indian Version.
But no, this is as stupid as you said. Credit goes to Better Copy-Paste...

[–] Gadget110 8 years ago

I have not seen the movie but read the plot, and I can say that not only was this couple "to stupid to live" but they did not have any intelligence to just "go home" once they are treated like scum let alone when they see this pack of thugs who are obviously up to no good.

Heres the ONLY reasons you "tough it out" with your significant other :

A. When on vacation or a getaway in the sticks you bring a knife, some other kind of bladed weapon, or a gun to keep yourselves safe. (legal or not you NEVER go into remote places without a weapon EVER or your a victim waiting to happen)

B. If theres a pack of thugs you keep your valuables safe and hidden at ALL times, car keys, money, and phone(how you call for help) should be watched by one as the other goes diving but without falling asleep and with weapon ready to use as the gang is in the area.

C. Should you decide to confront this group of problem children do so with your weapon at your side and show your not to be messed with, lay down the law/put foot to ass making it clear "do not us or you will face the consequences", sometimes all that is needed is a show of force.

"Always two there are , a master and an apprentice"

[–] Don_Cheech 8 years ago

Hate to be that guy. But you should watch the movie before attempting to analyze it.

They weren't "treated like scum" at the diner. The mom was just being a C-U-Next-Tuesday. Blindly defending her "kids". The only hostile thing she said was "not my kids" and walked away. I wouldn't say that's treated like scum.

As much as a weapon would've helped- they probably should've just called the police. Unless the police are corrupt - the issue would be resolved. I've gone camping with nothing but a filet knife. At one point in survival- you just have to be smart- and get the hell out there. Don't try to be a badass. This wouldve been their best route. Not killing the kids.

[–] CarlCarlson 8 years ago

I first thought that as well. But, it can teach some valuable life lessons if one wanted to use it as teaching material (I made a separate post about that). I could relate having been through some considerable scrapes and later realizing I could have prepared better, caused a lot of my own troubles, should have a better choice of friends, etc ...

"If Mad Max Fury Road is an 8, then I'll use 8 for OK, 9 is better, 10 is best."

[–] kitteh-76 8 years ago

Agreed, agreed, and agreed. My thoughts exactly.