Eden Lake

Eden Lake (James Watkins, 2008)

Gross:

$5,824 (USA) (2 November 2008)

Production Co:

Rollercoaster Films, Aramid Entertainment Fund 

Distributers:

• Optimum Releasing (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (theatrical)

summary of slasher conventions

Final Girl Halloween

The final girl is almost always a virgin, innocent and towards the end she starts building confidence.  The clothing the final girl wears may not be considered to be sexually attractive and she is unlikely to be blond this is argued by some that it is due to young boys who are one of the target audience of slasher films and so they are able to identify themselves with her.
   
The Monster/Killer The monster or killer’s identity is often unknown, this is achieved by a mask or creative lighting and camera techniques. This is to keep the audience on edge because they don’t know who the killer is and so leaves the killer without an identity. It is almost likely to be a man, and their weapon of choice is a knife or chainsaw, sharp claws and anything jiggered and sharp and they tend to prefer hand held weapons. Usually at the end of the movie the killer’s identity is revealed. The reason behind his killings is often a childhood trauma, which explains his choice of victims and it also explains his choice weapon and location. The killer is often made out to be understood by the audience and is pitiable. He is often silent and unstoppable, able to survive stabbings, falls and shootings by his victims. As this sub-genre has developed through the years some would argue that the actual star of the film is the killer and not the Final Girl

The location is a quiet and a suburban town, this helps to keep the audience with a sense of fear because it is a place that you would consider to be safe in. The location could be apart of the killers identity because it could explain a bad childhood or a significant event which the killer was involved in or which took place in. The location is often low in population and the location is often far from civilisation. The killer destroys his victims means of escape i.e. their vehicle which makes their escape nearly impossible and allows the killer to kill his victims freely without interferences.
    
The lighting is used to add tension to the scene, it is mostly dark and it is used to add shadows in order to give the mysterious feeling. The connotations of shadows are mysteries, this is one of the conventions of slasher films and it is one of the important aspect of this genre of film .
    
Other Conventions The first girl to die gives the film its meaning and sets the audience into the film setting by giving everyone a warning that this is a slasher film and that the killer has come to do their job. This character is often a girl who is sexually active and almost always goes off to have sex but ends up being killed. The benefactor is used to give hope to the audience and the characters within the film, the benefactor can be anyone within the film who gives the final girl a little information on what is going on or who the killer is going after next and he/she can even give the final girl/hero a weapon in order to defeat the killer. 

My favourite slasher

My Favourite slasher film is scream. This is my favourite slasher because it is very gripping and actually scary. I also like it because it fits the theories and stereotypes.Scream re-invented the horror slasher sub-genre when it was on its knees, all but dead in the mid 90s. Horror director Wes Craven brings screen writer Kevin Williamsons clever and also comedic script to life brilliantly. From the now classic opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore, you're guaranteed to be hooked. 
The basic plot is pretty simple. A killer is taking the lives of likeable student Sidney Prescott's friends, with the inevitable final showdown with her a shoe-in, but just who wants her blood and that of her chums so badly. 
I'm confident you'll be intrigued to find out! The cast are excellent, with all the leads exceptional, and some cameos from several stars of horror from over the years, such as Linda Blair, and even Wes Craven himself! 
The region 2 dvd features several good extra features. Behind the scenes info, interviews, trailers, trivia. Which add to the enjoyment and value of buying this dvd. An influential, mid 90s, self referential horror-comedy that gets the balance of both near perfect, is great fun and still holds up well today.