MovieChat Forums > Eden Lake (2008) Discussion > Stupid, disgusting, senseless, absurd, s...

Stupid, disgusting, senseless, absurd, sadistic and sexist.

posted 9 years ago by khatfield-3
19 replies | jump to latest

Hi there,

I watched this movie two days ago and I finally came to the conclusion I had to write something about it.
I watched it only because of Michael Fassbender, but I desperately regret it.
Before I even start (and I'll make it short), here's an example of terrifying movies that I really like and that I take very seriously because of the way they were written or because of the way they "hide" their bigger meaning. For example: Martyrs, Irreversible, Enter the void, Compliance, The girl next door, Snowtown, A Clockwork Orange, Man bites dog, Funny Games (which is basically the same movie just more ironic and intelligent).

So with those movies in mind, Eden Lake is just disgusting bullsh*t! I hate the way it tries to be "realistic" when it's just full of the most sadistic coincidences that I ever saw in a thriller. What I also hate is the way the girl always has this "sexiness" going while experiencing the most horrific scenarios. Her cleavage is being put into the center of the image very very often and it makes me sick. I don't know what kind of sick sex/sadistic thing the director was going for but the most important thing to me is that the ending can not be taken seriously when the whole rest of the movie is nothing more than a kafkaesque nightmare that makes no sense at all.

So the deeper meaning is that the bad guy wins? Oh man, that's so deep. That's so subersive! No it's not! It's bad writing! It's stupid and it has nothing to say. Even The chainsaw massacre is more intelligent than this crap.

Horror and thriller movies have a great potential to address social issues that don't get mentioned in mainstream media for example but this flick has nothing to say at all and I'm angry at the creators. I'm sorry but I really am. This movie doesn't take its viewers seriously and that's the biggest sin a movie director can commit.

[–] Vincen7 9 years ago

well said.. this movie and director probably think their audencie is brainless.. I mean the plot and the 100+ coincidences that happened were just laughable.. this movie had potential, but it went over the top and fell on its head

[–] trombleykyle 9 years ago

Are you the founder of the word "Sadistic"? You're really pushing it a lot during your rant

[–] Eve_of_Destruction 9 years ago

They said Sadistic twice in their post.

[–] aldutoridd 9 years ago

Agreed. Overrated

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nike06524 9 years ago

Agreed! I couldn't even finish watching it. The couple were so idiotic that I couldn't feel sorry for them. I wasted enough time watching as much as I did.

[–] ian-1355 9 years ago

What surprises you is Reilly and Fassbender would do a film like this. They'd both done quite a bit of work before this and alright weren't big stars but it's not a movie you would want to admit to making.

[–] crystalst1 9 years ago

I agree with you completely. What a weird movie, and a crappy ending! Funny Games was much more horrifying and bizarre. What was Michael Fassbender thinking???

[–] ventus_magica 9 years ago

So the deeper meaning is that the bad guy wins?

I think the deeper meaning was the extent of cruelty and how good education is extremely necessary, how people raise their kids; the boundaries and comunication. Some kids grow with really dangerous issues and is mostly because of how they are raised, this movie shows this, you see the parents at the end and they're extremely violent and even with their own kids. This is in fact a social issue and the movie depicts it.

Even the woman who is hunted by the guys is established as a teacher, she's supposed to deal with kids and their education but things get so badly she even goes to the extremes of killing them, I'm not saying this is a great movie but it definitely delivers a message to the viewer, it's visceral and sadistic but it is also emotional.

[–] tolive89 8 years ago

I think this film is smarter than you give it credit for.

[–] JudgeNotLestYeBeJudgeReinhold 8 years ago

I have to agree with you. This movie *beep* me up for a couple days at least. And not trying to come off like a big shot or anything, but I've pretty much seen it all, as far as 'extreme' cinema goes; Serbian Film, Inside, Martyrs, the AU trilogy, etc.

I don't know, this film just gave me a sense of utter dread and totally bummed me out. I respect any film that can bring that sort of emotion out of me.