Eden Lake v. The Children

Last year (I think) there were two films released about children doing some pretty evil stuff. One was called Eden Lake, the other (somewhat unimaginatively) was called The Children. 

Both have some similarities. They both have first half hours that consist of smug middle class people being, well, smug and middle class. They both seem to revel in the visceral violence that dominates so many films in the aftermath of the Saw franchise. And they could both put you off breeding for life.

The difference between the films is in the reasons behind the children turning evil. In Eden Lake the kids are set up from the outset as evil chav scum, and after one of the middle class wankers kills their dog, then the kids turn feral and hunt down the main couple in order to exact a painful revenge. In The Children (which owes more than a little debt to The Midwich Cuckoos) something turns the kids in psychopathic (and ingenious) killers. The later film focuses on subtle menace inbetween scenes of gore, whilst the former is filled with torture, stabbing, pain and general nasty violence. But it isn't just about the levels of violence that makes me prefer The Children.

The Children is a fantasy horror story through and through. It is violent, it is unpleasant, but it is a horror film very much in the tradition of Night of the Living Dead. It *could* happen, but let's be honest, all the kids turning into mentalists because of some unspecified virus or mutation doesn't seem tremendously likely. Whereas Eden Lake could easily happen. Chav kids having a fatal go at a couple that offends them (before being joined by their parents in the attack stakes) could happen right here, right now. Hell, it sounds like a news bulletin. 

Maybe I am getting old, but I prefer horror that engages the imagination on some level, rather than being so close to the truth. So whilst Eden Lake will always be praised by some for reflecting reality, I'd recommend The Children. As insane as it might sound, you'll enjoy that film about killer kids a whole lot more.