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“Yellowstone” captivates viewers with its intense family drama, but no character leaves a mark quite like Kelly Reilly’s portrayal of Beth Dutton. Before Reilly took on this iconic role, she was known for her performance in the 2008 horror film “Eden Lake,” where she starred alongside Michael Fassbender, famous for his roles in “Prometheus” and “X-Men.” For fans eager to see Reilly in a different light, this unsettling movie is a must-watch.
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“Eden Lake” is a film that lingers in the mind long after it ends. It follows the story of a couple, Steve (played by Fassbender) and Jenny (played by Reilly), who retreat to Eden Lake for a relaxing getaway. However, their peaceful escape is shattered by a gang of troublesome teenagers led by the menacing Brett (Jack O’Connell). When Steve stands up to the youths, a terrifying chain of events unfolds, leaving the audience on edge. Those hoping for a fairy-tale ending will find the conclusion anything but predictable.
Directed and written by James Watkins, known for his work on “Black Mirror” and the thriller “Speak No Evil” starring James McAvoy, “Eden Lake” has left a lasting impression on both critics and viewers. With a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and a 65% audience score, the film is widely regarded as deeply unsettling.
The ending of “Eden Lake” is polarizing, sparking debate over the fate of its characters and its unexpected villainous twist. Unlike many horror films where justice is served, this movie takes a different path, leaving audiences divided. To this day, viewers question whether the characters played by Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender deserved a different fate.
Reilly herself acknowledged the controversial ending in a 2021 interview with Daily Dead. She recalled telling the director during filming, “You know people are going to hate this ending. They are going to absolutely hate this.” Despite the anticipated backlash, Reilly appreciated the conclusion for its raw and unsettling realism, which she believed elevated the horror of the story. “I really loved making that film,” she affirmed.
What Kelly Reilly said about starring in Eden Lake
Optimum Releasing
The ending of “Eden Lake” either chills or boils the blood. Regardless, it’s a horror film that generates debate because of the fate of the protagonists and antagonists, along with its villainous twist. In a genre that celebrates the villain getting their just desserts, “Eden Lake” chooses an entirely different route and divides audiences. To this day, the viewers wonder if Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender’s characters deserved better or not.
Reilly understood this as well, telling Daily Dead in 2021 that she anticipated the ending becoming a major talking point about the film. “I remember shooting the ending of ‘Eden Lake’ and saying to the director, ‘You know people are going to hate this ending. They are going to absolutely hate this,’” she said. “But I loved the ending. I loved that she didn’t get out because that made the horror feel all the more real. It was very disturbing. I really loved making that film.”
If the chemistry between Fassbender and Reilly seemed believable and as if they had known each other for a while, that’s because they had. The pair appeared in the 1999 theater production of Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters,” in which Fassbender played Fedotik, and Reilly portrayed Irina. At the time, it’s unlikely they could have anticipated starring in such a gory and disturbing film like “Eden Lake” less than a decade later.
