Back of fag box film review – Eden Lake

Attractive young couple plan to spend a romatic weekend by a lake. An unpleasant encounter with a group of hooded teenagers shortly after their arrival eventually descends into a brutal and terrifying ordeal for the pair.

Eden Lake is a bit of an oddity. It falls somewhere between thriller and horror but doesn’t succeed in either category. It tries to say something about modern society by having the victims as a middle class, hard working couple pitted against ne’er do well, hooded chavvy youths whose parents aren’t much better.

This preys on people’s fears about an underclass who are so detached and disaffected that they have no respect for authority, property or human life. The portrayal of the teenagers just isn’t believable. They are about as threatening as a leaf of lettuce. Sure, there are a few jump in the seat moments and more than a few wince inducing bloody scenes but a good thriller/horror needs much more than that to succeeed. A disappointment.

1 out of 5 stars