An interesting sub-theme of horror and crime movies is “rebellious kids.” These are films that capitalize on the idea that kids—particularly young boys—are not charming moppets but sadistic death machines.

(I’m reminded of a great schlocko-thriller from the ‘60s titled “The Sadist” that starred the under-appreciated Arch Hall Jr.)

Maybe it goes back to “Lord of the Flies”, this idea that beneath the  charming veneer of boys is a certain savagery.

Anyway, that’s the motif “Eden Lake” plays with. 

In the film, a thirtysomething metropolitan British couple head out to a lake for some R’n’R. They come into contact with a gang of boys in their early teens. Tensions rise, conflict escalates, and it doesn’t go well.

I’d heard this film was known for a kind of unrelenting brutality, and it delivers. It’s the darkest film I’ve seen since “Landmine Goes Click.” The ending is especially bleak.

As mentioned, the film is on some level exploring the “adult versus youth” conflict that has been commented on since Roman times. But there’s also an air of “urban versus rural”, the same conflict that powered films like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” And implicit in that is a class conflict—affluent versus poor. 

The genius of these themes if you find yourself somewhat rooting against the protagonists—don’t these yuppies deserve a comeuppance? But your sympathies switch once the brutality starts. (At least mine did—I don’t know what kind of sicko you are.)

I was reminded of the American remake of “Speak No Evil” and discovered it has the same director “Eden Lake.”

The actors who play the couple, Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender, did a great job with their roles. And the kid actors are quite adept as well. It’s a high-quality production.

Best line: “They’re just children.”