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.

[–] Connor_Kenway 8 years ago

So the deeper meaning is that the bad guy wins?

It is... only if you don't dig any further into it, than the surface.

I believe you're simply misinterpreting the movie. Or perhaps you couldn't stomach it? I find it interesting how so many people on these boards, are filled with such strong emotions regarding this movie. It accomplished exactly what it set out to do.

[–] Eggley 8 years ago

Just saw this and had to post a quick response as I wholeheartedly disagree with the OP.

When you state "So the deeper meaning is that the bad guy wins? Oh man, that's so deep. That's so subversive!" I think you have either missed the point or paraphrased your conclusion to a point where it just doesn't cover the conclusion.

*Spoilers Ahead*

The ending is not that "The bad guy wins", it's basically confirming what has gone before in the story. We look at the scenario that these are "just kids" and that being threatened by them is not what we, as adults, should accept. "We" are meant to be in charge and should not feel that our peace or safety is at risk by a bunch of louts. However, not only do the youths have the upper hand in numbers, the ending confirms that their parents either a) Accept their children's behaviour or b) Would rather commit a crime themselves than risk their children having to face the consequences of their actions.

I don't know where you live but I'm a Brit and this movie was released at a time where youth culture, particularly mob youth culture was prevalent and highly publicised in the media. Cases were frequently being reported of kids vandalising cars (for example) and when the average Joe went to approach them about it, they'd be set upon and beaten, literally, to death. In a another case, a guy approached some kids to stop them from doing something, got attacked, slapped a 15 year old in self defence and the kid's father turned up and killed the guy.

Movies often hold up a mirror, albeit an exaggerated one, to society, and at the time, in this country, this was making a valid (if somewhat lurid) point.

[–] Navaros 8 years ago

the ending confirms that their parents either a) Accept their children's behaviour or b) Would rather commit a crime themselves than risk their children having to face the consequences of their actions.

But that's not what the story says. The story says that the adults murder the woman because they found out that she killed some of their kids.

The story leaves the adults not knowing that their kids are criminals. Ergo, they didn't murder her to cover up their kids' crimes. Rather, they murdered her for revenge.

This movie was released at a time where youth culture, particularly mob youth culture was prevalent and highly publicised in the media...

Movies often hold up a mirror, albeit an exaggerated one, to society, and at the time, in this country, this was making a valid (if somewhat lurid) point.

You make it sound as if these filmmakers were brilliant visionaries who made an important torture porn film for political reasons.

Far more likely explanation: the filmmakers were trying to cash in on the height of the torture porn fad as brought into the world by Eli Roth with his torture porn films Hostel and Hostel Part II. So they did their best to imitate that trash for a quick buck.

[–] Eggley 8 years ago

In fairness it's been 10 years since I saw this (on it's release) and without re-watching it I stand by my original statement regarding the ending as that was the feeling I left the movie with. The parents were more concerned with dispatching the problem (be it for revenge or to protect their children) rather than dealing with the consequences/fallout of their children's actions. Hands-up, may be wrong, but as I said, will stand by it until I re-watch the movie (and will post a correction if I feel my assumptions were wrong).

Regarding your torture porn comments. Sorry. Disagree with you. I remember the press when this came out and a lot of the comments were regarding the fact that this is indeed an exaggerated version of what we experience(d) in UK society. When I watched it I saw deeper than a few scenes of violence and the story resonated with me.

I'm fairly sure that you have actually watched the Hostel movies and there is no comparison. Hostel movies are scene after scene of violence. Eden Lake has some nasty stuff in it, but very few scenes of actual graphic violence. People seem to get the "Torture Porn" brush out and slap it around liberally whenever a movie has some violent scenes in it. Martyrs (original, haven't seen the remake), for example, was ten times more graphic than Eden Lake, and yet I don't think it could be described as TP. yet, I'm sure it is in some camps.

[–] knoxfan2008 8 years ago

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

Ummmm, you do realise that because a woman is wearing a dress with a little cleavage, that's not the film being "sexy" right? You do actually understand that women wear dresses that show cleavage? What did you expect? I think if your turned on by a woman covered in blood and crap just because there's cleavage, the issue is YOU not the film. A woman to wear full layers to a romantic getaway to a beach with her fiance? GENUIS! It was a sun dress. If you need to whine, why not complain that it's sexist that the bad guys were mostly MEN and the victim tortured and murder with barbed wire and knifes was MALE! and that the Youngest kid to die was a MAN.

NOPE! It's sexist because of cleavage! Sun Dresses are truly abhorrent and evil!!!!!

I think the problem is not that the film is bad, it's that you're a prude and looking for things to whinge about.

Anyone that uses the term "Torture Porn" as a legit criticism are usually morons. I mean, splatter films have existed for decades, yet now a film is called torture porn even if it's got a little bit of blood. It's so pathetic.

Also, sure, *beep* like this is extremely rare, BUT NOT UNHEARD OF. Stuff like this does happen, remember the famous case of the two boys who murdered a toddler? There are countless stories of murders happening like this. So don't lie just because you want to give credence to your childish crying.

[–] Fanjita 8 years ago

Saying that Funny Games is basically the same movie clearly shows you have no clue about movies.

[–] tzukeeper 8 years ago

Your mouth has bad diarrhea.

"What would you like to see on your honeymoon, Mrs. Cord?"
"Lots of lovely ceilings."

[–] Fiona90210 8 years ago

I completely agree.. I shudder to think of the type of people that actually found this enjoyable and intriguing.