|
|
|
Eden Lake (Blu-ray)
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - Optimum Releasing Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (4th May 2013). |
|
The Film
 ***This is a technical review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** City couple Jenny (Kelly Reilly - Mrs Henderson Presents, Pride and Prejudice, The Libertine) and Steve (Michael Fassbender - 300, Hunger) are eager to get away from it all. The idyllic, picturesque surroundings of Eden Lake seem like the perfect spot for a secluded, romantic weekend in the country until they realise the remote woodland enclosure isn't as deserted as they'd originally hoped. After being attacked by a local gang of rural delinquents (including Jack O'Connoll - TV's Skins and Thomas Turgoose - This is England, Somers Town), Steve and Jenny's car is stolen and Steve is brutally tortured. Suddenly the weekend begins to evolve into a sadistic game of survival and escalating violence, with a surprising and shocking climax. Directed by the writer of My Little Eye - James Watkins - Eden Lake is an intense and provocative horror/thriller that relentlessly feeds on modern fears and crosses over into territory that most contemporary films wouldn't dare to tread. Visit at your own risk.
Video
 Optimum Releasing have presented "Eden Lake" with a 1080p AVC-MPEG 4 transfer in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Colours are generally sharp, very much a plus on a movie that features plenty of scenes in the dark and in the undergrowth. Blacks did seem overly dark at times, but shades were consistent and the level of detail in the greens of the shrubbery and forest were at a high quality. Facial close-ups look crisp but the level of detail is often reduced in wider shots, most notably on the sand at the lake, when we first meet the teenage yobs. Contrast levels are consistent throughout and I spotted no signs of print damage such as scratches or dust. Edge enhancement, aliasing and crushed blacks were barely noticeable / non-existant, and the grain levels give a very natural look to proceedings. Even though it is far from reference quality, this is a solid transfer for what is essentially a low budget horror from an independent studio.
Audio
Audio comes by way of an English DTS-HD Master Audio track, and although it could be improved upon with added depth, it was overall impressive. The surrounds and the LFE generally get good usage through David Julyan's score (which is a little front heavy at times) and the jump scares, such as Bonnie the dog barking, also impress with the heavy LFE and surround usage. Directionality is generally good, and the only problem lies in the failure to provide basic sound effects to really immerse one in the surroundings. Still, dialogue is clear and there are no signs of damage, dropouts or background hiss. This is above average. Subtitles are available in English. White in colour, they are concise and easy to read.
Extras
The extras start off with a series of interviews with the following participants: - James Watkins (Director - 8:38) - Kelly Reilly (Actress - 7:47) - Michael Fassbinder (Actor - 4:57) - Thomas Turgoose (Actor - 4:38) - Christian Colson (Producer - 6:49) The interviews are all quite standard stuff, but there are some interesting tidbits of information here about the story, the characters, locations and the filming. James Watkins touches on writing the film and has the more interesting information, but other participants were interesting to listen to also. As fan of the "This Is England" movie and television shows, I did have added interest in hearing what Thomas Turgoose had to say. His answers are a little more basic than the more experienced Reilly and Fassbender, but he tells us about his character and the audition process he went through. The "Behind the Scenes" featurette (5:50) is essentially made up of raw footage from filming, with a little bit of conversation between cast and crew added to the mix. Hilariously, there is an exchange between Thomas Turgoose and an off camera crew member in which Turgoose manages to confuse a cadaver and a canoe. We also hear director James Watkins ask for tighter shots and shout "action!" a lot. In a slightly amusing moment, we see footage shot from further back of when the yobs pelt the eep with rocks. You see many of them miss and hit crew members viewing (obviously, they were fake rocks). The "Q&A with director James Watkins" (16:17) is basically a longer interview with Watkins than the previous one where he goes into slightly more detail. Annoyingly, we aren't told where exactly this Q&A takes place, and the questions appear as text on screen rather than letting you hear who actually asked it. The camera flashes lead me to believe this was more of a press conference and the audio quality varies with a random drop out towards the beginning. The most interesting part of the Q&A is where Watkins talks about how the influences of 70s cinema, mentioning Deliverance in particular. The final extras are self-explantory: TV spots (1:08) Theatrical trailer (1:48) "Extreme" trailer (2:05) All extras are in standard definition and do not include the option of subtitles.
Overall
|
|||||
|