76 reviews
It all starts off in atmospheric style, pitch blackness pierced by the occasional flash of light, only giving you brief glimpses of the strange subterranean world the amnesiac protagonist awakes in. It fills you with the same sense of intrigue and unease that "Cube" did so brilliantly, but whilst that movie managed to sustain it, the constant darkness and drawn-out pace of "Eden Log" soon starts to grate.
There's some nice looking shots in here, and a genuinely interesting premise, but the movie literally keeps its audience in the dark for far too long about the details, meaning that it outstays its welcome and by the time the admittedly impressive finale comes around you're unlikely to care anymore.
There's some nice looking shots in here, and a genuinely interesting premise, but the movie literally keeps its audience in the dark for far too long about the details, meaning that it outstays its welcome and by the time the admittedly impressive finale comes around you're unlikely to care anymore.
- teresaband
- Feb 23, 2008
- Permalink
- dbborroughs
- May 17, 2009
- Permalink
- masterandcommander
- Dec 18, 2012
- Permalink
- lovecraft231
- Jun 20, 2009
- Permalink
Eden Log is somewhat of a good surprise for a french scifi movie. Think of a arty and elaborate form, beautiful black and white photography with rare under lit colors.
What matters here is the mood more than the script, the first half of Eden Log is just the claustrophobic graphic story of a guy covered in mud trying to get out of a dark and low-tech labyrinth, with no memory at all of how he got there. There are very few dialogs, and there aren't even necessary.
Unfortunately, the last third of the movie doesn't quite lives up to it's beginning, the script is somehow too confuse and too explicit at the same time, and the dark and mysterious image of the beginning vanish due to the necessity of writing an acceptable end.
Still i would recommend this movie, it has a very original tone and form, rarely seen these days, and manages to create something on its own, aside from both the Hollywood scene, and the overall shitty genre french scene (if you've seen Chrysalis, you exactly know what i mean !) More than that : If you're fan of graphic and kind of arty movies like Tarkovsky's Stalker, Cube, Aronofsky's Pi, Caro & Jeunet's Le Bunker De La Dernière Rafale, that Forsaken thing or Guy Maddin's pictures you should definitely check it !
What matters here is the mood more than the script, the first half of Eden Log is just the claustrophobic graphic story of a guy covered in mud trying to get out of a dark and low-tech labyrinth, with no memory at all of how he got there. There are very few dialogs, and there aren't even necessary.
Unfortunately, the last third of the movie doesn't quite lives up to it's beginning, the script is somehow too confuse and too explicit at the same time, and the dark and mysterious image of the beginning vanish due to the necessity of writing an acceptable end.
Still i would recommend this movie, it has a very original tone and form, rarely seen these days, and manages to create something on its own, aside from both the Hollywood scene, and the overall shitty genre french scene (if you've seen Chrysalis, you exactly know what i mean !) More than that : If you're fan of graphic and kind of arty movies like Tarkovsky's Stalker, Cube, Aronofsky's Pi, Caro & Jeunet's Le Bunker De La Dernière Rafale, that Forsaken thing or Guy Maddin's pictures you should definitely check it !
But I'm brilliant! They just don't recognize my genius. But I'll show them. I'll show them all. I'll make a 1920's style film; in the style of Nosferatu or Metropolis. I'll show them I'm a genius. Gets two stars; because it sucks. Yes genius, you CAN make a movie. You just made a boring one.
- bemyfriend-40184
- Apr 1, 2021
- Permalink
Imagine waking up in an futuristic underground cavern, in a mix of soupy mud. You don't who you are, what you're doing there, or anything. And to make matters worse, there are mutants and high-tech forces who are anything but friendly. Finding a way out, realizing who you are and what type place this is all while trying to survive is basically what's going on in Eden Log.
The flick has an undeniably cool atmosphere and look to it. Shot in a sort of black and white manner, with good lighting and a truly cave-like, claustrophobic feel, the movie definitely succeeds in creating a life-like, but nightmarish environment.
With unique ideas and a cool look the movie succeeds. But overall the movie just didn't grab me. I was never really creeped out, drawn into the story, or pretty much anything. I was into the whole mutant dilemma, and I was curious about who our mysterious guy was, but it's obvious those issues will be resolved, and when they were, they were less than mind-blowing. You may think otherwise.
Eden Log had loads going for it visually, but when it came down to what matters when you're supposed to care for a film, it kind of just exists. Very average in anything else besides the look, but nevertheless the flick was original and I wasn't bored for any of it. It just had so much potential, I felt kinda disappointed when it was done. Kind of a head-scratcher as well, but it's not brain surgery. 6.5 rounded up to 7 for IMDb.
The flick has an undeniably cool atmosphere and look to it. Shot in a sort of black and white manner, with good lighting and a truly cave-like, claustrophobic feel, the movie definitely succeeds in creating a life-like, but nightmarish environment.
With unique ideas and a cool look the movie succeeds. But overall the movie just didn't grab me. I was never really creeped out, drawn into the story, or pretty much anything. I was into the whole mutant dilemma, and I was curious about who our mysterious guy was, but it's obvious those issues will be resolved, and when they were, they were less than mind-blowing. You may think otherwise.
Eden Log had loads going for it visually, but when it came down to what matters when you're supposed to care for a film, it kind of just exists. Very average in anything else besides the look, but nevertheless the flick was original and I wasn't bored for any of it. It just had so much potential, I felt kinda disappointed when it was done. Kind of a head-scratcher as well, but it's not brain surgery. 6.5 rounded up to 7 for IMDb.
- ElijahCSkuggs
- Sep 19, 2008
- Permalink
"Eden Log" explains nothing. The actors barely speak, The underground monochrome setting becomes intolerably boring. Mudman wakes up in a cave with no memory. As he ascends through the maze of rooms and tunnels, nothing is revealed, the film simply becomes more and more bizarre. Eventually this turns into nothing more than a mutant freak show, but by that time you will have lost interest entirely, only hoping for some gigantic payoff with the finale. When the end finally does come, nothing, and I mean nothing becomes any clearer. After being in the dark for 98 minutes of total nonsense, you will rightfully conclude that "Eden Log" has zero entertainment value. - MERK
- merklekranz
- Feb 1, 2010
- Permalink
Didn't expect much when I started it and thought it might be some kind of horror like "The Descent" to pass some time...
At first, especially during the first 5 minutes I was kind of confused and might've even turned it off, the constantly flashing light and the grunts of the main character put me off quite a bit, until the story started to unfold and I got to watch one of the better Sci-Fi's I've seen in the last few years.
I guess the movie is either underrated because people turned it off in the very first few minutes or because they expected a horror-movie/didn't pay enough attention to understand the plot.
It was great to see the hero start with a completely clean slate, while discovering what is going on all around him and uncovering the plot and the setting of the movie-world to finally even find out about his true identity and still do what he deemed right with all of his newfound experiences and pieces of information in the back of his mind.
For me it's somewhere between a 7 and a 8, I gave it a 8.
At first, especially during the first 5 minutes I was kind of confused and might've even turned it off, the constantly flashing light and the grunts of the main character put me off quite a bit, until the story started to unfold and I got to watch one of the better Sci-Fi's I've seen in the last few years.
I guess the movie is either underrated because people turned it off in the very first few minutes or because they expected a horror-movie/didn't pay enough attention to understand the plot.
It was great to see the hero start with a completely clean slate, while discovering what is going on all around him and uncovering the plot and the setting of the movie-world to finally even find out about his true identity and still do what he deemed right with all of his newfound experiences and pieces of information in the back of his mind.
For me it's somewhere between a 7 and a 8, I gave it a 8.
Hands down. A truly interesting picture held in the gripping nocturne atmosphere of the dark sci-fi. Very simple, little dialog and few action-filled scenes with lots of details and original ideas. Eden Log is something like a debut from the french director and with this stylish calling card I am helluva sure we will be hearing from this guy again. The story is compelling the viewer making him no less confused than the main protagonist and that was the whole point. The viewer becomes the main persona searching for answers while tripping balls through the dark corridors of the tech cave. The director could easily made it clear with one sentence in the beginning like the most of the crapbag movies today. "The year is... this is... he is... an experiment... and he... " and the rest would be just blank silence with no reasonable point at all. Indeed. Different approach is needed worldwide. I can't even remember the last know good sci-fi movie I've enjoyed and Eden Log came like a small shotgun blast in the head. The black/white editing is very convincing, make-up effects, acting and the ambient sounds and music are very horrific. Man, I really loved the deep voice and look of the Guards. Reminds me of F.E.A.R. from Monolith and this is the funky thing. The whole movie seemed like a filmed game to me. So, if you like sci-fi, this is the movie for you.
If you are in to long pauses between random non sequitors, enjoy epileptic fit inducing flashes of light on your screen, mosters hat are about as scary as a racoon on a Scooty Puff Jr, then this is the movie for you.
Honestly, this movie deserves a negative 4 (those who watch the movie will get this). The protagonist is a simpering moron who communicates mostly in grunts and rape. His supporting cast includes monsters that are as threatening to his health as a squirrel on a Scooty Puff Jr. and some faceless soldiers who all sound like they need to lay off the cigarettes. The "plot" is uteerly incomprehensible, and makes me think there was no script to begin with, just a man armed with a camera, a sewer, and a dream. A dream of making people suffer. Suffer through this movie, which can only fairly be compared to such cinema masterpieces as A Guy in the Sewer With a Camera 3, I Don't Like Communicating; the sequel, and They Paid me to Make This! Honestly, its like watching a silent movie with all the helpful exposition slides removed, and replaced by heavy breathing, blinky lights, monsters that are never clearly glimpsed except through mesh netting (our post-apocalyptic future seems to involve a lot of mesh netting), and some kind of tree.
In conclusion, go watch Cube. Or anything else really.
Honestly, this movie deserves a negative 4 (those who watch the movie will get this). The protagonist is a simpering moron who communicates mostly in grunts and rape. His supporting cast includes monsters that are as threatening to his health as a squirrel on a Scooty Puff Jr. and some faceless soldiers who all sound like they need to lay off the cigarettes. The "plot" is uteerly incomprehensible, and makes me think there was no script to begin with, just a man armed with a camera, a sewer, and a dream. A dream of making people suffer. Suffer through this movie, which can only fairly be compared to such cinema masterpieces as A Guy in the Sewer With a Camera 3, I Don't Like Communicating; the sequel, and They Paid me to Make This! Honestly, its like watching a silent movie with all the helpful exposition slides removed, and replaced by heavy breathing, blinky lights, monsters that are never clearly glimpsed except through mesh netting (our post-apocalyptic future seems to involve a lot of mesh netting), and some kind of tree.
In conclusion, go watch Cube. Or anything else really.
- thinker1717
- May 26, 2009
- Permalink
I feel like somebody dropped a log, that's for sure, and then they or somebody else filmed it.
I only made it to 20 minutes in. Is that good?
Rookie, rookie film making. Folks - you need to stand back and look at WHAT exactly is being seen and heard. All there is for the whole first chunk of the film - and it makes you not care what there is in the rest of it - is grunting, a flashing white light, mud, more grunting, and some inexplicable, unintelligible computer voices - oh yeah and then more mud and grunting.
Aaaand it's BACK TO FILM SCHOOL YOU GO!
I only made it to 20 minutes in. Is that good?
Rookie, rookie film making. Folks - you need to stand back and look at WHAT exactly is being seen and heard. All there is for the whole first chunk of the film - and it makes you not care what there is in the rest of it - is grunting, a flashing white light, mud, more grunting, and some inexplicable, unintelligible computer voices - oh yeah and then more mud and grunting.
Aaaand it's BACK TO FILM SCHOOL YOU GO!
- hoytyhoyty
- Aug 16, 2014
- Permalink
A very impressive first feature. It has the shortcomings of it's qualities, but the overall feeling is that of being immersed in an alien landscape for a journey before regaining the planet earth again. It's obscure, not very clear of it's intentions, maybe even a little naive at moments, cold and detached most of the time, but it has the balls to be different. I must admit that i was only a few times during the film awed by what i witnessed, but constantly admiring the fact that it didn't compromise the fact of not searching for the approbation of the largest number. Whatever my feelings at the end, and i'm still not quite sure, i did feel intrigued during the whole duration, and i'm glad that films like this exist and get to be made. The other commenter's have labeled this as "arty", but i'd rather say it has a style and sticks to it, for better or worse. Sure it's eye-candy, and as such doesn't hurt the viewing, but i wouldn't say it's style over substance, i really felt it like an uncompromising vision of of a first time director. It's no Dark City, but it's a pretty damn fine effort, and i'll be waiting for the next one from the director. The music was excellent as well, not really your typical movie score, and added to the immersion. And all this for a certainly meager budget...
All in all, i'd recommend it, a very serious effort, and for that it gets a 7 out of 10. I guess i did like it after all...
All in all, i'd recommend it, a very serious effort, and for that it gets a 7 out of 10. I guess i did like it after all...
- hersh-mail
- Jul 9, 2008
- Permalink
- davidfurlotte
- Jun 15, 2011
- Permalink
--> !NO SPOILERS! <--
* The verdict.
Eden Log could be the first in a series of films on the topic and, if that were so, it could herald a project ambitious enough to rank among history's top Sci-Fi features along the likes of The Matrix and Artificial Intelligence. At present, it feels like an artistic short film and a 90 minute long one at that.
* The nitty-gritty.
If you decide to watch Eden Log, do not expect a large dose of entertainment. The film can be appreciated as a work of art, can be admired for its unique feel, but it leaves the audience unsatiated.
The world presented in Eden Log is severely limited in scope, awkward and, at times, presents frustrating problems. It takes a moment to adjust to the pace of the film, since the tempo would not have to be slowed down much to make Eden Log run in real time. A word to bear in mind over the first ten minutes of the film is 'patience'. It appears that the strategy employed by the director is to immerse the audience in the world of Eden Log through long exposure to its Sci-Fi elements. As such, one has to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate the attempt.
The plot could be summarised in about four sentences, but, to judge Eden Log on the plot, is to miss the point. The focus here is on appealing to the senses and a more complex plot would be a distraction.
All in all, Eden Log was an experience, but with a dead end. It is just one of those productions, which has the feel of the first part of a splendid trilogy, but which is not actually going to be a trilogy, because of the conceptual limitations placed upon the project at its outset by the director.
* Vote.
None can be given.
* The verdict.
Eden Log could be the first in a series of films on the topic and, if that were so, it could herald a project ambitious enough to rank among history's top Sci-Fi features along the likes of The Matrix and Artificial Intelligence. At present, it feels like an artistic short film and a 90 minute long one at that.
* The nitty-gritty.
If you decide to watch Eden Log, do not expect a large dose of entertainment. The film can be appreciated as a work of art, can be admired for its unique feel, but it leaves the audience unsatiated.
The world presented in Eden Log is severely limited in scope, awkward and, at times, presents frustrating problems. It takes a moment to adjust to the pace of the film, since the tempo would not have to be slowed down much to make Eden Log run in real time. A word to bear in mind over the first ten minutes of the film is 'patience'. It appears that the strategy employed by the director is to immerse the audience in the world of Eden Log through long exposure to its Sci-Fi elements. As such, one has to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate the attempt.
The plot could be summarised in about four sentences, but, to judge Eden Log on the plot, is to miss the point. The focus here is on appealing to the senses and a more complex plot would be a distraction.
All in all, Eden Log was an experience, but with a dead end. It is just one of those productions, which has the feel of the first part of a splendid trilogy, but which is not actually going to be a trilogy, because of the conceptual limitations placed upon the project at its outset by the director.
* Vote.
None can be given.
This is a very strange movie - a pretty good one; don't get me wrong; but a strange one. As it begins, an unnamed man with no memory awakens in what can only be described as hell. We watch him explore this place, desperately searching for a way out, and we, too, face the same question he's facing - what is this place? And - of course - how did this guy come to be here? The mystery surrounding the environment, which is very dark and claustrophobic, is a pretty good one. Over the course of the movie, I took 3 guesses as to what was happening. My first was that this was some sort of scientific experiment run amok - this was suggested by repeated references to labs. My second was that we were seeing the desperate aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, which was suggested by the scenes of extreme devastation we see. My third was that this was some sort of religious fable, which was suggested by the opening reference to the Creation narrative in Genesis (although the movie as a whole really seemed to have more in common with the Book of Revelation.) In the end, the movie doesn't really answer those question or give a straightforward explanation of what's been going on, although I thought that a combination of my first and third scenarios seemed most likely.
To me - it seemed as if the movie was making the suggestion that the creation of humanity was caused by some sort of "divine" lab experiment that didn't work, with the unnamed man (and the woman he encountered) being loosely cast as Adam and Eve awakening to the desperate realities of their condition. The title "Eden Log" then suggests that this is a sort of account of how and why "Eden" (in the Genesis narrative) came to be. This was reinforced for me by the end of the movie, which seemed to reference something of the Judeo-Christian narrative - that from this point on (the point at which the man emerges from the earth, just as Genesis portrays Adam as being brought forth from the earth) the goal of the man (and his creators, whoever they were) is to find a way to return them to their original state, which surely must have been better than the hellish state we saw in this movie. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but that seemed to be the only explanation that made sense to me. So, I found it an interesting reflection on and recreation of creation itself.
To me - it seemed as if the movie was making the suggestion that the creation of humanity was caused by some sort of "divine" lab experiment that didn't work, with the unnamed man (and the woman he encountered) being loosely cast as Adam and Eve awakening to the desperate realities of their condition. The title "Eden Log" then suggests that this is a sort of account of how and why "Eden" (in the Genesis narrative) came to be. This was reinforced for me by the end of the movie, which seemed to reference something of the Judeo-Christian narrative - that from this point on (the point at which the man emerges from the earth, just as Genesis portrays Adam as being brought forth from the earth) the goal of the man (and his creators, whoever they were) is to find a way to return them to their original state, which surely must have been better than the hellish state we saw in this movie. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but that seemed to be the only explanation that made sense to me. So, I found it an interesting reflection on and recreation of creation itself.
This movie just wasted a good hour an a half of my time. I went into it expecting a Cube-like experience, but unfortunately it came nowhere near. What's wrong with it?
First of all, half the movie is so dark you can't see anything. Now I'm well aware that often the less you show, the stronger the suggestion and thus the stronger the suspense. But when you can't see what's happening whatsoever, there's no suspense at all.
Second, in any story there has to be something that makes you keep watching (or reading). There has to be something of a storyline and advancements within that. If what's happening (providing you can see it) is so unclear as in this movie, it's making you stop wondering (and caring) at all.
Third, I like movies that are less straightforward (Cube, Mulholland Drive, Pulse (the Japanese one), Pi). Just because a movie is less clear, doesn't mean it's not interesting. But, the opposite is true as well: just because it's less clear, doesn't mean it's interesting. An 'arty appearance' does not equal 'Art'.
My advice: don't bother and do something else with your time(take a nap or whatever).
First of all, half the movie is so dark you can't see anything. Now I'm well aware that often the less you show, the stronger the suggestion and thus the stronger the suspense. But when you can't see what's happening whatsoever, there's no suspense at all.
Second, in any story there has to be something that makes you keep watching (or reading). There has to be something of a storyline and advancements within that. If what's happening (providing you can see it) is so unclear as in this movie, it's making you stop wondering (and caring) at all.
Third, I like movies that are less straightforward (Cube, Mulholland Drive, Pulse (the Japanese one), Pi). Just because a movie is less clear, doesn't mean it's not interesting. But, the opposite is true as well: just because it's less clear, doesn't mean it's interesting. An 'arty appearance' does not equal 'Art'.
My advice: don't bother and do something else with your time(take a nap or whatever).
I am glad to read the positive comments about this film, but also I can understand those who found this film slow and were not able to enjoy it. I think film is dedicated to a narrow audience: One must be moved by archetypal imagery alone (I mean the lack of gripping plot here) and enjoying just the atmosphere; without motion, without anything for the conscious mind.
At the beginning I was at once gripped by the atmosphere. Scenery, camera motion is the best part of the film. (If you don't watch this film in the cinema, complete darkness is advised.) The nearly-monochrome images, the play with light and darkness is used artistically and originally to keep us perplexed and uncertain; to show us the struggle for consciousness of man.
The viewer is so to say forced to identify with the protagonist. Here the camera viewpoint is very important and very well done. The camera shows the scene always from the protagonist's viewpoint or he himself.
While watching the viewer (or at least I) constantly tries to grab a wider view of the actual place, but he can not do that; his view is narrow as is the protagonist's. Thus the viewer is able to empathize with struggle of the protagonist, feel hes fear, anger, struggle, anxiety. This is combined with the lack of information and understanding about what is going on so again we feel uncertain and perplexed.
I love archetypal imagery and I am satisfied by them alone. Thats why I didn't feel the movie lacks the plot. But I cant deny it lacks. I actually love the uncertainty it has. I must admit, that I don't understand everything, and that is maybe not the end I would write to it. But thats it. I still love it this way.
And just because I read in an other comment... The rape-lovemaking scene is just perfect. It is so natural. And again I like the play, the uncertainty.... is it rape? is it love by first sight? is it a natural ground-and-earth way that ADAM and EVE meet? who knows....
So... thank you for this film!
At the beginning I was at once gripped by the atmosphere. Scenery, camera motion is the best part of the film. (If you don't watch this film in the cinema, complete darkness is advised.) The nearly-monochrome images, the play with light and darkness is used artistically and originally to keep us perplexed and uncertain; to show us the struggle for consciousness of man.
The viewer is so to say forced to identify with the protagonist. Here the camera viewpoint is very important and very well done. The camera shows the scene always from the protagonist's viewpoint or he himself.
While watching the viewer (or at least I) constantly tries to grab a wider view of the actual place, but he can not do that; his view is narrow as is the protagonist's. Thus the viewer is able to empathize with struggle of the protagonist, feel hes fear, anger, struggle, anxiety. This is combined with the lack of information and understanding about what is going on so again we feel uncertain and perplexed.
I love archetypal imagery and I am satisfied by them alone. Thats why I didn't feel the movie lacks the plot. But I cant deny it lacks. I actually love the uncertainty it has. I must admit, that I don't understand everything, and that is maybe not the end I would write to it. But thats it. I still love it this way.
And just because I read in an other comment... The rape-lovemaking scene is just perfect. It is so natural. And again I like the play, the uncertainty.... is it rape? is it love by first sight? is it a natural ground-and-earth way that ADAM and EVE meet? who knows....
So... thank you for this film!
- rgcustomer
- Mar 28, 2010
- Permalink
If U do not read wiki, U can watch it numerous times and still not get it
I give this movie a 2 star because I know there are movies out there that cannot be explained even in wiki
The thing is, if U read the synopsis, it makes the reader/viewer mad that a movie w/ such a well thought out 'synopsis' is such a flop in execution
The amount of dark scenes and partial too quick to focus on stuff scenes is also kind of irritating, I guess this allows them to save on vivid special effects
I give this movie a 2 star because I know there are movies out there that cannot be explained even in wiki
The thing is, if U read the synopsis, it makes the reader/viewer mad that a movie w/ such a well thought out 'synopsis' is such a flop in execution
The amount of dark scenes and partial too quick to focus on stuff scenes is also kind of irritating, I guess this allows them to save on vivid special effects
- marccolten-1
- Apr 24, 2011
- Permalink