Cherry Tree Lane (2010)

As Good As It Gets

A Masterpiece!

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Doing a bit of channel hopping tonight and we came across this movie. My other half almost instantly wanted to change channels as the description of a psychological slasher piece involving some revengeful teenagers didn't appeal to her on any level. I protested and said let's at least watch the start and see how it develops. And I'm so glad we did.It's a quite tense and edgy piece that could easily be a stage show, all very contained. The acting is pretty good, the script is basic but it does the job, the plot is nothing more than you'd expect. Yet somehow the whole thing is greater then the sum of its pieces in my opinion.Even though I don't have any great affection for the characters, I found myself rooting for them, or laughing with them, or sighing with them. I think this film does moral terpitude very well, I think it largely avoids cliché, even though the subject might feel that way sometimes. I don't know how I missed this three years ago, but I'm glad to have caught up with it now.Elements of Straw Dogs perhaps, although this feature manages the central dilemma of that horror in a much more intelligent fashion. I think that's what I enjoyed the most really, the way it did horror through implication.

Writer and director Paul Andrew Williams surely knew his stuff with The Children (2008) and The Cottage (2008). Cherry Tree lane tries to make a horror about strangers invading a house but this time it's more about some hoodlums who are after the son of the house who has been clicking to the police. I can understand that for some it all looks like it could happen with themselves or their neighbours but it is a bit low on brutality or red stuff. So I won't say it was bad but it was more a flick with a message if you just watch the end. I would rather say it's a kind of thriller, drama.What makes it more a thing that could happen to yourself is the fact that they spoke in their dialect. It surely shows how society is today but if you leave the message out of this flick then there isn't that much happening. The rape is done off-camera only to make the viewer think what will happen or what is going on upstairs. Maybe the last 10 minutes are a bit shocking for the easily offended but don't think that you will see Straw Dogs (1971) or The Last House On The Left (1972), therefore it doesn't have enough brutality or shocking moments. I can also understand why horror buffs don't like it. Just watch Inside (À l'intérieur (2007) instead if you want a gory disturbing house-invasion movie.Mixed feelings about Cherry Tree Lane and I can understand why. Acting was rather okay but surely not an exploitation as those 70's revenge flicks.

A middle-class couple Christine and Mike is abused by a trio of hoodies who use a supposed betrayal by their son.The father is savagely beaten and the mother is raped by knife-wielding black youth named Rian."Cherry Tree Lane" is not as intense and brutal as similarly themed "Kidnapped".I enjoyed it due to its remarkable acting and gritty social realism.The violence is mostly off-screen but the atmosphere is quite unsettling.The climax is abrupt and there are some implausible moments,but if you like terror cinema you can't go wrong with "Cherry Tree Lanes".It's a chilling little thriller in the vein of "Eden Lake" that will disturb you.Better think twice the next time you go to answer the door.8 hoodies out of 10.

Straight to the point. In my opinion Cherry Lane Tree is not a movie worth watching and has been overrated. I would rate it 3/10. After watching Funny Games (US Version) and reading Cherry Lane Tree plot I was willing to give it a go. Unfortunately noticeable differences between the two movies took place. For example: The main characters have blank personalities and are unlikeable from the first moment as the movie starts, with a cold situation between the couple. Poor acting from all the cast and poor directing. Scenes Like one gang member calling another in order to bring him a drink from outside, or Calling his mother to record an episode on TV because he will be late home, or another gang member eating biscuits in the kitchen take place and are annoying as they get way off the movies storyline. The scene with the girls visiting towards the end of the movie with one also bringing along her smaller brother completely spoils whatever is left of this movie and is completely unnecessary. Seriously this movie has some very childish scenes and is disappointing overall.