Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2008, Eden Log was met with mixed reviews as the directorial debut of co-writer Frank Vestiel. The film is dubbed as a futuristic science fiction film and is shot entirely with hand-held cameras. Originally distributed by Bac Films in France, Magnolia Pictures decided to give this French language film a release in North American release. I hadn’t heard much else about this film so naturally I was quite eager to check it out.
Film
The film opens up much like a Saw film would, Tolbiac wakes up in an underground cave with no knowledge of where he is or how he ended up there. Next to him lies the body of a dead man. After stumbling around in the dark for several minutes, Tolbiac encounters computer panels all around him when suddenly a generic welcoming image pops up informing him of a paradise known only as Eden Log. It appears this is a well sought after place that only those willing to make a sacrifice may enter. Tolbiac proceeds.
While making his way forward Tolbiac sees more messages making the audience more interested in just where he is. Still not remembering where or even who he is Tolbiac struggles to find an exit whilst navigating through the almost computer like world. Eventually he discovers a man who warns him of danger and death, and a loud growling noise becomes so intense Tolbiac is knocked unconscious. This is where things start dragging out a bit as Tolbiac wakes up in a new area with no knowledge of how he got there and as the film continues on he slowly pieces together more and more in a Memento fashion that involves murder and deception.
The storyline for Eden Log wasn’t as simplistic as I had anticipated as there were quite a bit of twists and turns and an ultimately satisfying conclusion. Filled with several shocking plot events and stunning visuals ultimately Eden Log was a mixed bag with questionable cinematography and sometimes dull dialogue.
The use of hand-held cameras in cinema can be very effective and personal, creating a connection with the audience that can be quite engaging. Then on the other hand it can be extremely shaky, annoying, and ineffective. It really depends on the film, and it depends on how it’s directed. I felt that the use of hand-held in Eden Log took away from an otherwise lavish film. The story was unique, and considering its budget some of the effects were rather decent. But ultimately I felt no connection to the film, and the visuals while ultimately rich and enthralling seemed to be more suited for a video game. At times I really didn’t feel like I was watching a movie but rather playing a game.
But as aforementioned despite lacking some serious cinematic qualities the story and intense action sequences really gave Eden Log some legs of its own, so ultimately I’d recommend this film for hardcore science fiction fans only as I can tell you it won’t sit well with just casual fans of the genre.
Video
Presented in 1080p 1.85:1 aspect ratio and encoded in VC-1 Eden Log comes to Blu-ray with above average results. The washed out color pallet fits the movie well but makes the video presentation somewhat flat at times. Detail however makes up for any shortcomings I felt the color presentation had. The dirty feel of the film really is enhanced by the high resolution presentation as the dirt and grime are clearly seen in every shot. There are a few wide shots that do suffer from some banding issues but this is a minor problem when you consider the rest of the presentation is pretty solid.
Blandness aside I felt the presentation of Eden Log was above par especially when considering the small budget of the movie.
Audio
Magnolia has included a 5.1 DTS-HD track and it is one that presents the given material perfectly. If the track didn’t create an engaging atmosphere then the movie would have come off as extremely dull. Fortunately for viewers the audio does do a great job creating an eerie and at times suspenseful atmosphere. The quality of the track is top notch as there were no balancing or technical issues throughout the entire movie.
Overall I was very impressed with the quality of the track and even more so when you consider the
Special Features
We are given no special features with this release of Eden Log.
Final Thoughts
As I previously mentioned this film is definitely not for everyone, actually the target audience for this film is very thin. The plot is sometimes complex and drags out, with an ending that will only be satisfying for hard core fans of the genre. But those of you who dig movies like this are really going to find a gem with Eden Log. The video isn’t exactly the greatest thing we’ve seen on Blu ray but considering its hand held nature and low budget I was pleased. The audio was better as it created an impressive atmosphere. However the features are nonexistent and further reinforce my decision to recommend this disc only for die-hard fans of the film. For most of you, never seeing this movie wouldn’t be a bad thing but I know there’s going to be those of you out there who find this unique film extremely captivating so I’m going to recommend it as a rainy day rental.
