Eden lake (2008) - Film Analysis

SettingsThe film was set in a large wood forest for the majority of the film. This atmosphere creates a tense feeling as anything can be hiding behind a tree or bush waiting to pounce out. The other two settings used were a pub/inn that housed some rough looking people and a small house where one of the villainous youths lived.

CharactersThe main characters were a young couple bands Jenny and Steve. Steve was the alpha male who planned the romantic get away and confronted the youths starting trouble.Jenny was real main protagonist who was quieter and more submissive than Steve however survived until the end of the film despite this even killing two of the youths.There was then Bret who led the wild group of rowdy young people. He forced members of his crew to stab Steve and even killed one of his own by beating him to death while sniffing a suspicious powder throughout.There was another youth who was uninvolved with the gang called Adam however he dreamed up with them to betray Jenny and from this ended up being killed by Bret.Lastly there were the parents of the gang. These group of adults ended up killing Jenny and plotting to hide the whole event from police in order to protect their children.

Camera workMid and long shots from behind leaves and trees focusing on characters were used to give the impression that somebody was watching the characters, especially Jenny.There were quite a lot of close ups of Jenny and Steve kissing and being intimate which was done to humanise both characters and show the genuine love and bond that a couple have. It is important to humanise characters in horror films so that the audience pities them when anything goes wrong as if the audience didn't care about the character, their death or injury would have small to no impact.Point of view shots are also used such as when Jenny is inside the bin looking out on Bret and the gang trying to hunt her down. This has been done to build tension as it puts you in her position of being hunted.

SoundThe main sounds used throughout the film were:The rustles of leaves - usually to hint to the audience that something was coming.Animal noises such as bird sounds - which allowed the audience to feel how in the middle of nowhere the characters are and how hard it is to escape and get to civilisation and help.Sounds of youths e.g. loud music, shouts, general rowdiness - these sounds were used to show how loud and wild the group were which suggested that they were a threat in comparison to Jenny and Steve in their quiet get away.Tense music and heavy breathing were used throughout to show moments of high tension and panic such as when Jenny and Steve are in the small wooden hut on the lake while the youths are outside it hunting them down.Sad music is also used when Steve decides that he will stay and sacrifice himself so that Jenny can get away and live. This is so that the audience will pity him.