ANALYSING FILMS: Eden Lake

This post explores different aspects of horror film openings and includes detailed analysis of Eden Lake. I will be looking directly at:

• The opening shot
• Idents
• Mise-en-scene
• Central narrative + the protagonist 
• Transition to the main body of the film
• Sound
• Genre representations

EDEN LAKE (James Watkins 2008)

Slasher 
Distributed by Optimum releasing (currently Studio Canal UK)
Budget $2 m
BBFC 18

Produced by Roller coaster films

Starring: Michael Fassbender who is a we'll established actor

Trailer: 

Key features of the opening:

1. No idents and we go straight into titles. 
2. Flashing images from scenes later in the film with yellow tinted colouring. I would use use alpha mask to create flickering titles on FCPX. The red and yellow tinted freeze-frames create a sense of fire, signifying the horror genre. 
3. Non diegetic music, static/slashing noise and screaming signifying the horror genre.
4. Long drown out notes to make the viewer hold their breath and a cutting sound every time a clip shows up.
5. The titles are intertextual as there is a reference to Halloween and Friday the 13th. 
6. Foreshadowing to the later part of the film, exposition to the use of children's songs later on. 
7. One of the main characters are shown, presented as highly normative of gender representation: make up, longer hair, pink dress and thin figure. Stereotypical gender roles. Her dress is not short or tight showing her as soft and feminine. 
8. We see a "Chelsea tractor" in the shot showing them as upper middle class. We get exposition on the couple being posh through the other protagonists accent. 
9. Verisimilitude of 'lollypop lady'
10. Anchorage of them being a happy couple. 
11. Ellipses used to denote their journey. Diegetic sound of their conversation inside the car.
12. Gender roles reinforced strongly. 'You are such a boy'. Good anchorage as it makes the viewer identify strongly with either of the characters for stronger theatrical distribution. Radio coverage reinforcing their gender roles as well as him driving, him taking the lead. At any sense of threat we look at him for reassurance. The woman doesn't have any body hair. He walks in a vey manly exaggerated way.
13. One of the conventions being reinforced: sexually active couple gets attacked.  
14. Effect of over the shoulder two shot used to create the effect of being in the back seat. Cycling used as a jump-scare as well as foreshadowing, they are blurred out to create mystery.
15. Binary opposition of working class/ upper class women, our main characters not smoking and are shown as mannered. 
16. Alcohol shows links to domestic violence, linking back to the idea of troubled teens
17. Privileged POV: the audience can see the back of the sign while the character can't. The statement highlights the difference between the social classes. 
18. Foreboding of the gates and the "keep out sign"
19. Makes the viewer sympathies with them less when they destroy nature
20. Foreboding for the being trapped and powerless.
21. Scene framed for the 'bad people' to come in
22. Power play of the villain asserting their power by smashing the jar
23. Drill music played to show them aggressive and commercial. 
24. Opposite from a regular slasher film: teenagers portrayed a criminal and a threat.