This horror movie will ruin your day | Eden Lake (2008)

I am Jason Kleeberg, this is Force Five, and today I’m going to give you 5 reasons you might like a film that Force Five listener Jared R. recommended to me called Eden Lake from 2008, the film that proves angsty, unchecked teenagers are the scariest thing in the world.

Reason number 5, Sometimes a horror movie is scary because there’s an insane situation you know isn’t grounded in reality, but sometimes it’s scary because it actually could happen to you and your loved ones. Steve and his girlfriend Jenny are headed up to an old quarry that Steve used to frequent because there’s a secluded beach there and he’s looking to take the relationship to the next level. Annoyingly, there are some unruly teens that also hang out at the lake and after a confrontation over blaring music, the situation quickly escalates into violence and torture. If you like films like The Strangers, Cherry Tree Lane or even Funny Games, this nihilistic tale is sure to hit the spot.

Reason number 4, clocking in at just 88 minutes, this is one lean, nasty and relentlessly paced thriller. The initial confrontation happens at around 10 minutes in and once things start going wrong the film rarely lets you breathe. Director James Watkins, who recently directed the phenomenal Speak No Evil remake, is a really talented director and he crafted an intense survival flick with next to no fat. Fans of his other work or films like Wolf Creek and Killing Ground are going to love this one.

Reason number 3, this features early performances from Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly, who play the terrorized couple. Since then, Michael Fassbender has been nominated for two Oscars, both for 12 Years a Slave and Steve Jobs and he’s great here as a man who is just trying to get some alone time with his girlfriend when he gets to the end of his rope, but Kelly Reilly, who you might know from Yellowstone, is actually even better as Jenny. She puts on an incredible physical performance, beginning the movie as a warm, fairly ordinary school teacher who transforms over the course of the movie as she sells the fear, exhaustion, pain and growing desperation of someone clawing for an exit. While they’re driving up to the country I couldn’t help but think, they’re a couple that I’d want to hang out with, which makes the second half of the movie that much more devastating.

Reason number 2, Jack O’Connell is terrifying as Brett, the leader of the group of teens terrorizing Jenny and Steve. He’s not a typical horror movie villain, he’s an insecure, angry teen who has discovered that everyone around him is afraid to challenge him. It’s just as disturbing seeing the other kids follow his lead, even when you can tell that some of them just want to go home. The movie shows how peer pressure, fear of consequences, and groupthink can turn one extremely dangerous person into an entire group. Jack O’Connell is a really good actor and if you’ve only seen him as the polite Irish vampire in Sinners, this role is going to knock your socks off.

Reason number 1, if you’re into French extremism films, this actually feels right in line with that subgenre that was really gaining steam in the early 00’s. And, while not French, it actually also reminded me of the original Speak No Evil, so it makes perfect sense that James Watkins would remake that later. But back to it’s French Extremism DNA, it’s got the rural isolation of High Tension, the commitment to making its subjects suffer from Inside, the social anger of Frontiers, the emotional punishment and hopelessness of Martyrs. It’s got a haunting last shot, and I will warn you, do not go into this movie thinking that you’re going to walk out smiling.

If you’re sitting there thinking, what can I watch that’s going to leave me crushed and unsettled, or any of the reasons I mentioned perked up your ears, check out Eden Lake. Have you seen it? If so, what did you think of it? And what’s your favorite wilderness horror movie? Let me know in the comments below, and if you have a movie you think I should see, email me at forcefivepodcast@gmail.com like Jared R did.