MeganScarn Reviews

Eden Lake (2008)

Disturbingly brilliant

[8/10 · 8 November 2008]

This film could easily have just been some chavs bullying people, but it is much more then that. I have watched many horror/thriller films and they have rarely effected me the way this film did. From the beginning the mood is set of this extremely happy couple living in their bliss and as most of you will know before watching this the film is not about their happy relationship. The first thirty minutes of the film are more easy going then the rest, but still captivating. As the film continues it shocks you beyond belief, I expected gore but I didn't expect how the tone of the film would make me feel.

If you have an uneasy stomach or sometimes get emotional, prepare yourself for this film. It is gruesome but some scenes are a little too realistic which is what makes the film different. A lot of horror films similar to this lack realism so the audience cannot connect with the protagonist as easily, but Eden Lake has been made with a great deal of empathy for the couple and hate for the young kids. Seeing as there is a strong connection between audience and the characters there is a great deal of emotion involved which is unexpected, but this shows that the film has been made very well and that the actors do their job perfectly.

The young actors who play the chavs are fantastic, and i'm not going to say fantastic 'for their age' because they are truly talented actors regardless of age. Jack O'Connell plays the ring leader of the group Brett, and he really shines. Playing a merciless hateful character is not the easiest thing to do, but if you didn't know better you would think that is how he is in real life because he is just that good. I have been a big fan of Thomas Turgoose since he was in This is England because he is also a very talented and realistic actor and he doesn't disappoint in this film either, but he isn't in it as much as I would like. The other actors in the group are equally as talented. As for the couple they were perfectly cast and they have great chemistry, I have been a fan of Michael Fassbender (who plays boyfriend Steve) for a while but I had never really noticed Kelly Reilly before (who plays girlfriend Jenny) but she plays the character very well and hits the right emotions at the perfect time.

All in all the film draws you in, keeps you captivated, shocks you with the gore and blows you away with emotion. The best thing about it and what makes the movie special and better then most other similar films is just how real it is. You almost feel like this is happening to you, and their reactions are also real human reactions too. The film is truly great and one of the best of its genre, very impressive all around.

Saw V (2008)

A disappointing Game

[3/10 · 6 November 2008]

(There are no spoilers here, just comments on the storyline so don't worry)

First of I am a huge Saw fan, from the first film to the fourth film. Each Saw film has a good story line with decent actors and can definitely deliver a scare. The main thing about Saw of course is the ending. Saw 1, 2, 3 and 4 all had fantastic endings that very few people guessed that made the viewer shocked and surprised. Each film got worse as they went along but not by any means bad, they were all clever, but Saw 1 had the best twist that you don't see coming and as each one progressed they got more gruesome and not as brilliantly clever as the first, but they were all entertaining and smart films... Until this one.

I honestly was expecting a good film, because I know a lot of people who thought Saw 3 and Saw 4 weren't that great but they never let me down. Especially with Saw 5 having the tag line 'You won't believe how it ends' I was expecting a good film with a very good twist that I wouldn't believe. I am such a Saw fan, but when the Saw 5 credits started to roll at the end everybody in the cinema had the same look on their faces... Disappointment. We all looked around at each other wondering if that was really it. The main thing that makes the Saw series different is the ending, and Saw 5's ending was very very predictable as it was the entire storyline anyway.

Now if we exclude the ending itself the actual film was not that great anyway. The storyline repeated itself and never progressed as far as the detectives are concerned, except for one discovery. The game that is played by the 5 people is the only good part, as the traps are still original but unfortunately what connects them is not predictable (as their are no clues given) but is not clever, what connects them is just boring. So the film itself is only entertaining when you are watching the game play out and the relationships between the 5 people, but even their twist is predictable if you pay attention to the first trap, and nothing much is explained either. The gore is up to par but there is not as much as the previous 4, but when there are gruesome scenes they are quite intense.

So as far as the ending is concerned it is the actual storyline, do not expect a huge twist that you can't guess because the ending just justifies the story. There is no real shock factor, you don't leave the cinema thinking wow I never saw that coming. It almost seems like it was just made to fill space between Saw 4 and Saw 6, or even just for the money.

So to conclude (sorry this is so long) if you are a huge Saw fan then I would suggest to watch it just for the sake of it but don't expect anything great, and to be honest if you don't watch it but want to watch the 6th one when it comes out I doubt you will miss anything. Just read a quick synopsis here or wiki or something, cause the film is a waste of time if you are expecting brilliance. If you want to watch it for fun or for some entertainment then go for it. If you really want a great film with the ending it promises, then pass. I wish it was better and I think it is a real shame for fans and for the franchise.

Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

An action packed breath of fresh air

[8/10 · 30 January 2008]

Shoot em' up delivers exactly what it promises, a great shoot em' up. So many action movies these days try to hard to be taken seriously by adding 'deep' sub-plots. This movie doesn't waste time by going into the characters backgrounds when it is not necessary, it gets straight to the point. Some of the action scenes may be ridiculas but the movie isn't asking to be taken seriously. It is entertaining and hilarious, the comedy in this film can be very tongue and cheek but it goes brilliantly with the rest of the film. It's fast paced, funny, with great graphics and even better actors. If you want a deep emotional thriller then this isn't it, but if you just want to be greatly entertained by a movie that actually has a good story line and a great soundtrack with brilliant action sequences... This is it.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

There will be brilliance

[10/10 · 27 January 2008]

This movie is in a league of it's own. The acting is fantastic, especially Paul Dano who's performance was shocking, and of course Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a spot on performance also. The soundtrack was extremely good and very powerful. As far as it being boring and drawn out, it is simply not true. I can understand why people may feel that way as it is a long movie, but cutting it down by even 5 minutes could have ruined what is a captivating story. You will be pulled into every scene and every moment and when the truly powerful scenes come you will be blown away. The direction and cinematography stand out and everything is delivered very well. As I said before the soundtrack is really good and helps capture the emotions. All in all this movie is fantastic and a must see for anybody who enjoys movies.