3 July 2008

The French science fiction film appears to be on the rise, at least in quantity. Following last month's UK DVD release of Julien Leclercq's Chrysalis, we can now look forward to the enigmatically titled Eden Log, the debut feature of Franck Vestiel, whose previous credits as assistant director include Dante 01, Them, The Nest, The Red Siren and Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale. Eden Log is a stylish and thought-provoking science fiction shocker that has been compared to the early works of acclaimed directors such as George Lucas (TXH 1138), Luc Besson (The Last Battle), Vincenzo Natali (Cube) and Darren Aronofsky (Pi), an there's more than a hint of Shinya Tsukamoto's Haze in the set-up.

Tolbiac (Clovis Cornillac) wakes up naked, disorientated and lost in a dark cave deep below ground. He's cold, hurt, and has no idea what brought him there, or what happened to the dead man lying next to him. Surrounded by the ruins of an underground world and with only the faintest light source to guide him, Tolbiac attempts to recover his lost memory as he struggles to reach the surface. His journey takes him through a labyrinthine network of tunnels and abandoned laboratories, where he discovers he is not the only one trapped in this tomb-like underworld. Pursued by ravenous mutants and evil phantoms, he eventually meets a woman who may provide the clue to his identity, while all along the way he is confronted by evidence of a mysterious organisation known as Eden Log.

The film's slick visuals, ear-bending sound design, fast-paced action and foreboding atmosphere, Eden Log is a film that may be destined for later cult status, and certainly marks Franck Vestiel as a director to watch in future.

Eden Log will be released on UK DVD by Momentum on 28th July 2008 at the RRP of £12.99. The disc will feature both Dolby surround 5.1 French language version (with optional English subtitles and a Dolby stereo 2.0 English dub, while extras will include a making-of featurette and a teaser trailer.