Eden Lake

James Watkins, 2008

Medieval gore I can handle, ghosts give me the creeps, crazed murderers I watch over the top of a duvet, but this film is like nothing I have seen before.

I came across this film when it came out in 2008, but was fortunately spared the public humiliation of watching it in the cinema. Despite being left a nervous wreck every time the credits role I feel if I have any appreciation of films I must highly recommend it to anyone wanting to be scared witless and angered by seemingly normal people who could quite possibly live next door. 

The film starts with a visit to Eden Lake, a romantic camping trip away for a young couple, Steve and Jenny; chance to get back to nature and live the simple life for a day or two. What the weekend ends as is far from this. The great british chav with nothing better to do and his group of bored friends wreak terror upon the couple who dared to question them. The young cast who play the members of the group are truly terrifying, ruthless and pure evil. 

A chase begins and the couple begin to flag, picking up injuries along the way but too scared to turn back and try to hold an adult conversation with the mindless youths. Through days and nights of tension, Steve's situation worsens and Jenny is forced to carry on without him and do anything she can to outwit and escape the brutes who hound her through the woods. There is some gore and Jenny ends up covered in mud, clothes torn, hair awry, but still she runs. Perhaps one of the most sickening scenes of the film is when the group turns on one in their own cohort for refusing to fall to peer pressure. This scene is enough to make stomachs turn and makes you question who on earth dreamt up such a horrifying scene of torture and murder.

This film is packed high with tension and leaves your heart racing as you follow Jenny chaotically through the English woodland.

I daren't spoil the ending but the most cruel twist of fate for Jenny will make you question and feel disgust at the human race. The most disturbing thing that Eden Lake will leave you with is the thought in the back of your mind that no matter how disgusted you are, you will realise that the events of this film are completely plausible and that is true terror...

Definitely see this, but you have been warned...

**** / *****

You're a wizard Harry

To all UK residents who have had access to ITV over these weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year I would like to take a chance to acknowledge the franchise that is "Harry Potter"

I have looked back with nostalgia over the past weeks and have nothing but utter pride for this British film which became a worldwide phenomenon. I remember going to buy the books which were in themselves extraordinary, and my various cinema trips over the years to see what the latest instalment has to offer. Sure I have done a Harry Potter marathon with my friends, it is after all a defining fantasy of my generation. 

What I have loved is watching them over the weeks, the development is amazing, even the acting talents of the three young wizards improves each time, but it also frames the advances in the film industry, special effects by the end of the saga are beyond compare, costume, makeup they all improve with time. It's not until you watch these side by side that you realise that not only did the Harry Potter franchise grow with the film industry, the film industry also grew because of it.

I am proud to be part of the Hogwarts generation and will be planning another marathon very soon. And perhaps another visit to the WB Studio Tour, or if I'm feeling particularly rich a trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

We love you Harry Potter! And always will.

Gatsby

Baz Luhrmann, 2013

BIG STATEMENT ALERT: Possibly.. just possibly my favourite film of 2013. After waiting what seemed like decades for this film to release I headed to the cinema, sweets in hand and eager with excitement to see the latest film from one of my favourite directors, Baz Luhrmann.

Sometimes when I see a film advertised that is full of promise I am naturally dubious, with such a star-studded cast I did wonder whether I could accept Toby Maguire as anything other than Spiderman and how Jay-Z would contribute to the soundtrack of Luhrmanns 1920s feast.

What I can say is this film is dripping in Luhrmann - glitz, glamour, sin and sorrow. The casting is superb and Leonardo DiCaprio fits perfectly into the role of Gatsby, a far cry from his early role as Romeo in another Luhrmann great. You will not get the words "Old sport" out of your head for a good few days after seeing this film. Daisy Buchanan has often been critiqued in the literary world as being a character with not much depth and a bit well, boring. Carey Mulligan brings an ethereal beauty to the role and as much as you want to envy Daisy's life you pity her and wish the world for her. Toby Maguire's Nick Carraway is delightfully quaint. His innocence shines through in confused close ups and his twee straw hat and three piece suit set him apart from his rich and glamorous neighbour of West Egg.

This film does not disappoint the eye, it is full of colour movement and sparkle. The palette is so rich, teals, cerise, blacks, golds and New York city comes alive in the wonderful 'yellow window' scene. This is also key to the film as it hooks you in by repeating the theme of being without and within. You are made to feel vouyeristic at times, guarding secrets for characters, and then dragged into the action by Gatsby's charm and his rip-roaring parties.

As for the soundtrack - delectable. Hats off to Baz et al for their choices, whether reusing modern songs or introducing new tunes each serves a purpose and sets a scene. Lana del Ray haunts the bleary eyed twenties after party and puts lyrics to Daisy Buchanan's woes. A personal favourite is Jack Whites "Love is blindness" which starts to accumulate the tension and anger and sin and explosive end to this fantastic film.

The film has it all; dance, booze, beauty, confusion, sin, secrets and Gatsby!

If you love Luhrmann you will love this, if you don't love Luhrmann I still think you could love this, and if you do not know Luhrmann - see this film... old sport.

***** / *****