DVD Cover Analysis

EDEN LAKE (JAMES WATKINS, 2008)

The main image on the DVD cover is of the main actress, hiding behind a tree and looking over her shoulder at, what we assume is, her pursuers. She's wearing a feminine floral dress with a small amount of cleavage showing, which suggests vulnerability and that she isn't equipped to handle dangerous situations. Exposing her arms and neck also contributes to this idea of the woman being defenceless. Her face, however, has been cast partly in shadow.

In the background, we can see a picture of three men shrouded in darkness with light behind them, one of which is wearing a hoodie. By not allowing the audience to see their faces, it creates some mystery as to who these characters are and what their goal is. We can infer from the perspective that they are looking for the woman, but we are given no clues as to why.

Two stars are featured on the front cover of the DVD, one of which who is instantly recognisable by most people (Michael Fassbender). The other actors in this movie are relative unknowns in the film industry.

Some of the themes that are apparent from the cover are being hunted, fear, confusion, and paranoia.

We can see that Eden Lake has been given some good reviews from members of the press, such as Empire magazine, Time Out London, and viewlondon.co.uk. Empire is considered to be a trustworthy source of film and television reviews due to their reputation and experience of judging films accurately. This would also encourage fans of Empire to watch the movie.

Including words and phrases such as "disturbing", "genuinely scary", and "immaculately paced" on the cover art advertises to audiences the themes of the movie, and also promises a particular experience. This serves to intrigue potential viewers who are fans of the horror thriller genre.

The title on the DVD cover is bright red, but it's not a solid block colour. It's textured and distressed in a way that resembles blood, which adds to the idea of this being a horror movie. Using a place name for the title of a movie is also quite effective, as it leads potential audiences to question why the location of Eden Lake is significant in the first place.