Eden Lake (2008)

Director: James Watkins

Cast: Kelly  Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Jack O'Connell 
Genre: Thriller

A gruesome hoodie horror/thriller set in the British backwoods.

For a weekend getaway, Steve (Fassbender) and his girlfriend Jenny (Reilly) visit an outback quarry-lake before the beautiful surroundings are devoured by an upcoming urbanization, forever. Enjoy their time away from civilization; the reverie is suddenly broken by a bunch of rowdy kids lead by a yobbo, Brett (O'Connell). Quite evidently, Brett is used to have things his way, by hook or crook, by bullying or beating.

The group starts monkeying around with the couple and it soon turns into ugly coquetry. Shocked at this vulgar behavior of some teenagers, Steve confronts the group but immediately retreats on account of incessant mocking and insults hurled at him--coming especially from Paige (Finn Atkins).

The group further besets the couple by stealing their belongings/car and stranding them at night in the middle of a jungle. To get his belongings/car back, Steve's second encounter with the kids results into violent clashes and Brett unleashing his belligerent bitch on him. Accidentally, Brett's dog gets killed and all hell breaks loose. Now, the infuriated group tries to murder the couple. Steve and Jenny somehow manage to escape and begins the game of cat-and-mouse, followed up with plenty bloodbath and torture.

Film does sounds like any other survival-thriller but atmosphere is quite electric, build up is great, and the climax sequence literally 'screams horror' in your face--even sans the gore. You feel for Reilly and yearn for that sweet revenge, with clamped fists and gritty teeth. Alas! might just be out of reach.  

Toward the end of film (signs were there even earlier) we realize these demented children can actually be attributed to reckless parents and messed-up upbringing in a malevolent society/environment.

Fassender is not in his usual impactful, meaty role. It is Reilly and O,Connell who really steal the show here. O'Connell hardly seems to be portraying a character. All that hatred and hostility seems quite inherent--I call that brilliant acting.

Direction is top notch. I am pretty sure Watkins isn't trying to belittle any indigenous community through this film--just showcasing what can happen in any part of the world under similar circumstances. He perfectly captures the intricacies of how immorality continues to survive and thrive.

8/10

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Director: Steven R. Monroe

Cast: Sarah Butler

Mighty Avengers couldn’t have done it better! A girl exacts revenge on her assaulters in most gruesome ways imaginable. 

A writer (Jennifer Hills played by Sarah Butler) seeking solitude to work on her next novel retreats in a secluded cabin. All alone, she is subjected to extreme torture and physical abuse by a group of local perverts. Assuming her dead, the assaulters eventually get back on with their lives. However, the girl survives and is on a mission to pay them back tenfold.   

You might have heard the phrase ‘Revenge is sweet’; in this film you feel it in your bones through the protagonist and a brilliant screenplay/direction. There is enough gore/bloodshed to keep you either glued in, or steer clear of it altogether.  

7.5/10

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

Director: Yipin Lin

Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, Michelle Rodriguez

Genre: Action

As if swanky cars weren’t enough, Fast and Furious now have ‘Tank’ rampaging the roads—and, you are in for one hell of a ride! 

Yipin (Justin) Lin nails another F&F movie. The 6^th installment doesn’t just pick the tempo where Fast 5 concluded; it gets bigger too, and straightaway—no lag on plot development or character insights as it is already all set. From scene one you have fast cars in action, trailblazing through some beautiful locales.  

F&F also provides what was amiss in Fast 5—a real villain of credibility in Shaw (Luke Evans), well supported by his sidekicks who match (even betters) Dom’s crew blow-by-blow, i.e., until the climax of course.

Action in the film, as it was supposed to, overshadows all other aspect of the film but comedy, overall acting, editing, camera work, special effects, etc. gel well in this in this high octane showdown.       

All in all, a perfect summer blockbuster for action buffs.  

If the sneak-peek of F&F is anything to go by then the F&F 7 is going to be even ‘massiver’—the newest addition (current tycoon of action films) to cast/franchise certainly indicates so!

What more. Being a huge fan of Diesel’s ‘Riddick’, I hope the success of F&F avails him enough riches to decently market/promote another potent, niche-focused, action/adventure franchise of his.

7.5/10

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Director: J.J. Abrams

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Saladana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-fi

Enterprise NCC-1701 continues its spacial adventure at warp speed.

Star Trek 2 springs into action straightaway with two completely different personalities—yet most compatible—in the thick of it. Kirk-Spock once again create magic with their unmatched chemistry; and helm the Enterprise throughout the film. They are well by supported by Bones, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Pike, and newly added Admiral and Khan. The strongest aspects of film, that will impact the Trekkies most, are: 

• Kirk’s undying love of his family—the Crew of Enterprise, and

• Spock’s unbreakable bond with his captain—severance of which is one of the few things that induce explicit emotions in the inherently uptight Vulcan. 

Kirk’s desperation/sacrifice to save his crew and Spock venting his anger at Kirk’s demise showcases both these aspects beautifully. Scotty and Bones are also there to lighten up the atmosphere every now and then, with decent comic touches. 

Only slight disappointment is under-utilizing, under-developing the character of superhuman 'Kahn Noonien Singh' (like it happened with Nero in previous installation)—Benedict Cumberbatch certainly showed he could match up to the 'Khan' of Ricardo Montalbán, if not better him.

When J.J. Abrams revived Star Trek, it definitely seemed like beginning of next big Hollywood venture that will be deemed an epic in years to come, and Trekkies should be happy to see a steady sequel following up a super successful re-launch of 2009. Of course, the film isn’t as magnificent as the first one, but it keeps the old fans engaged and opens the doors of Starfleet to a new crop of younger fans. 

Without a doubt, the new generation of Trekkies will enjoy the company of Bones, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Pike, along with Captain Kirk and First Officer Spock in upcoming films; all the while, BGM of Star Trek rushing their adrenaline.

Film is technically sound too, especially the post-production 3D job is quite commendable.  

What more, the tone has been set for the next film. At the end, Khan is put into a cryogenic-sleep and Enterprise embarks on a never-before-like 5 year-long exploration mission.

Keep your eyes and ears open for a cryptic signal from/to deep space!

              

7.5/10