High Tension (Uncut) (FR)
| release date | June 10 2005 |
| studio | Lions Gate Films |
| director | Alexandre Aja |
| writer | Alexandre Aja |
| starring | Cécile De France, Maïwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon |
| rating | R |
| tagline | (aka Switchblade Romance) |
| site | hightensionmovie.com |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
0 Comments
intense, and bloody
One of the biggest letdowns in horror film history. On one hand, I found three-quarters of the film to be fantastic… only to be slapped in the face at the end. ‘Haute Tension’ did not need a gimmick, and Alexandre Aja should be ashamed of betraying the audience for a nonsensical crotch-shot of an ending. Therefore, I cannot give it much for what started as something brilliant.
I HATED this movie, what a waste of time!!! NOT RECOMMENDED!!!
Loved this movie, original, scary, and full of gore. If you aren’t a quick reader this movie is not for you, you may not be able to keep up with subtitles.
AMAZING. I can’t say much more about this movie. I saw the original french version with english subtitles, UNCUT and the movie is superb. It’s scary, creepy, VERY suspenseful, and has two likable leads. The killer is really menacing and i can’t really say anything bad about this movie. It’s a greay throwback to the horror films of the 70s and 80s. Of course France would create such a great movie. It’s a shame that America can’t really create good movies anymore. SOoo…
Viva la France!
I loved this movie. I thought it was really well thought out and if you go back through the movie and try to understand it, it does make sense. The people who dont like it tend to be those who are too ignorant to accept the ending and try to understand it. I highly recommend it if you are willing to think about the movie once it is over with.
The most interesting movie in the horror genre for a very long time, the gore is pretty basic, yet sometimes with a different little twist (for example the wooden pole with barbwire scene). The plot is very good, but it does has some holes which you’re gonna have to explain with your own imagination. The title high tension is the perfect choice, its non-stop suspense for the first to the las second and with a very disturbing plot twist that refers to the beginning of the movie. The way Aya shoots the scenes is in his own special style, and everything combined its undiscussable that this movie has the right to call itself a PIECE OF ART
great
Best slasher movie ever! That’s right, I said it.
one of my favorite and best horror
The tension is indeed high and the blood flows freely not even 20 minutes into it. On my top 10!
Wonderful filmmaking. Great performances from Cecile De France and Maiwenn. Wonderful gore sequences. Beautiful imagery. Just a perfect film, second to only The Descent in terms of thrills and gore.
Liked it for the most part. can’t really decide if I liked the ending or not. On one hand if you go back and watch it again it is well thought out(can’t go into details without spoiling). On the other hand the very first time I saw it I felt kinda let down, like that was an easy way out for the writers. Not only was it a little cheap, but its been done before. All and all though it was a good movie. The gore was fantastic! And the “Oral Sex” scene at the begining is classic.
Alexandre Aja, director of the recent Hills Have Eyes remake, crafted this superbly shot French horror film that must be seen to be believed. High Tension is one of the sickest and bloodiest thrillers to come out in recent memory, and for horror fans it’s a real treat. At first glance it looks like a typical slasher film with all the conventions (two late teen girls, a secluded home, an incredibly homicidal killer with inventive uses of slaughtering people) but Aja’s inventive camera tricks and angles combined with some great gore effects make High Tension one of the best horror films to come out in a long time. However, what almost ruins it is the “twist” ending. Now normally, something like this wouldn’t really bother me, but the way that High Tension sets up the first encounter with the mad killer, everything before that and afterwards can get thrown out the window in terms of sense. But sense isn’t why you’d sit down to watch High Tension, and it delivers in terms of suspense and blood letting,, and as said above: it’s a real treat for hardcore horror fans.
I thought this was an excellent film. This is the second film I have see by Aja, and I must say he def. knows what he is doing, both as a writer and a director.
The gore was alot of fun, and that chainsaw that gets busted out at the end of the film is rather gnarly. I cringed at Alex taking the piece of glass out of her ankle. I thought the twist was very nice, and you cannot complain about female masturbation in a movie.
All in all, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who has not seen it.
Alexandre Aja First Feature Length Film was done very well. I think this is more of a return back to 60′s and 70′s classic slasher style genre flicks. What I really appreciated was it’s capacity to develop good characterization when the blood was flowing heavily well within the first 20 minutes of the film. The Actresses in this film conveyed a visceral, and very realistic sense of fear and paranoia. Watching this movie one might have to forgive it’s gaping plot hole at the end, but one also must give Aja credit for creativity. If the story was a little tighter it would have been a very well done ending twist. This is still trivial… when it comes down to it, this is really refreshing. Beyond cheesy American remakes with comedic relief littering potentially stellar releases (that shit makes me want to gag)High Tension is fresh and stylistic, well produced and directed. Much props french brotha of another motha.
this was a hell of a movie, one of the best i’ve seen in a long time. HIGHLY RECCOMMEND
While quite “tense” and well-made, it’s still exhaustingly overrated and has one of the most pointless plot twists in the history of horror cinema.
I did expect a little more fro this movie. the story was good but the endingv almost did kill the whole movie. it was one of the worst horror twists ever. but besideds that this movie was good and ok for a film debut for alexandre aja.
French Gore at its finest!
awesome!!!!
This movie kept me glued to my seat from the beginning to the end. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the screen and once the end finally came into effect I was shocked and surprised.
Truly mesmerizing….
This film is what what got me (and I’m sure a few others) hooked on French cinema. From start to finish I loved the way everything was done. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the the ending – it was too far fetched for me.
Simply awesome! See it now!
Haute Tension is a brutal brutal tense movie that any horror fan will enjoy.
the grimm score helps the tension of this film seem more intense, which rarely music does for me in films, but the villian in this film was pretty interesting and sort of a throw back to 80s slashers, the downside to the film, as those who seen it, know it was the ending twist
awesome
i loved this movie, would recommend it to anyone. the ending will have you thinking, i watched it a 2nd time, knowing the end & despite some plot flaws, it’s still a powerful edge-of-your-seat ride
While the ending seemed out of place and unneeded the rest of the film is a tightly packed bloody horror film. The title doesn’t lie. The film’s tension is excruciating and the death sequences are top notch. I’m so glad this film opened my eyes to French horror cinema.
I gotta say I loooove the ending, it sure takes you off guard and that was the intention IMO.
As for me Alexandre Aja could stop making movies right now and he would have a high place in horror cinema with Haute Tension alone.
This movie is the bomb….
This movie was awesome, the ending threw me for a loop which I always love!
This film is fantastic. On first viewing my pulse was racing . High Tension indeed!!! The rivers of blood that flowed in in this movie made my eyes pop out of my head , and the brutality plus the endng caught me well of guard. Definately one the best horror movies of the past five years. Alexandra Aja needs to stop making remakes for Hollywood studios and get back to his nitty gritty style so evidentin this movie. If you haven’t seen this one then your not a Horror fan. Highly highly recommended.
suspension of disbelief in full tilt and GO. Thhis movie was GREAT!! so many good parts! great story.
My ex told me this movie sucked. Well, she sucks! I was on the edge of my friggin seat the whole movie! Awesome!
I thought that high tension was a pretty good movie, nothing really that special but still very enjoyable.
Storyline: A psycho serial killer attacks an innocent family, but at the end you find out that the serial killer is the family’s friend and she thought that she was helping the family because she had serious mental disorders. 8/10
Acting: Was pretty average. 5/10
Special Effects: Great! Lots of violence and gore and it looked super real which was awesome. No b-grade stuff here. 10/10
Best Scene: The legendary disc saw scene if you’ve seen the movie you know what i’m talking about. 10/10
Ending: Friend visits her (the serial killer) in a mental hospital. 5/10
Overall this movie was a good serial killer thriller and I give it 7/10
i am a huge fan of horrific violent movies… and Frontiers is a great one to watch also…
Has anyone mentioned that this is almost a scene for scene rip off of Dean Koontz Intensity? Well at least up until the Split personality business. Both movies start out the same. Though High Tension is a bit move violent about things. The same plot structure is happening.
I suggest finding Intensity. It was a made for TV movie back in the 90′s
One of the best and favorite movies i have ever seen. The acting is good. The story was confusing but after watching it a second time, I finally got the story. some good kills. I think the ending was the best part out of the whole movie. If you have not seen the movie you should watch it, I promise you will love it.
This movie will definitely go
down as one of the best horror movies
ever made. It capitaved me from the start
and every now and then when I go back and watch
it I am still stunned by geniousness of it
and the sheer drag out no apologies brutality of
it all not to mention one of the most fucked
up endings I had ever seen so that when I left
the theatre I just shook my head wondering
if I had lost it–a feeling I hadn’t felt since
the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.
very good movie, A+ gore, the thraoat cut scene was one of the ive ever seen. the twist at the end is really gay but the movie is so well done that its easy to overlook. aja does a great job of creating tension and suspoense in every scene, which is one thing newer directots just dont get. recommended
A great movie that had me on the edge of my seat…until the “twist” ending.
The end actually ruined the movie for me. Yes, the rest of the movie was good and well made and awesomely gory…but seriously? SHE was the killer the whole time? It seems like a South Park joke!
However, I must still give this movie props for REALLY bringing the French horror scene to the forefront, ushering in films like Frontiere(s) and Inside and the like. AND props for having some fantastic violence and really everything up until the end. It’s hard for me to review this one, actually, cause I’m so conflicted. On one hand you have an intense, well-crafted movie, on the other hand, you have the ridiculous twist ending that kinda ruins the rest of the movie. Seriously, it was ALMOST as dumb as the end of SAW…almost.
I don’t even know…I guess 6/10
Bottomline, this is a great movie. From start to finish the movie is full of action, blood, and gore. Many people complain that the ending and the whole movie was confusing and made no sense….honestly, who care? The girl is suppose to be schzophrenic so the male killer is in head. By the time you get to the end of the movie you really don’t care if the story line kind of sucked and was unoriginal because the gore and blood makes up for it. This movie is fast paced and full of gory exciting kills.
This movie is defiantely worth your while and I strongly recommend you see it!!
I’m freshly after the movie, it was a good movie if you don’t watch many horror films. French horrors are really good if it comes to gore, sometimes it’s even underrated, and so I expected a lot from this one. I’m not new in this genre of films this is why I figured out what’s going on in the middle of the movie. Already. And I really wished the ending wasn’t like it was. Why? Because how many times I’ve seen movies when eventually a good guy, or the character who’s among the victims turns out to be the psycho with the chainsaw? I mean… come on, do I have to give you examples? It’s supposed to be ‘twisted’ but it’s not. When you see the same twist in every movie it stops being so spectacular.
Other than that, gore good, plot good, action awesome. Everything is just alright if not lack of originality.
this was a gory movie and the ending was a twist but I wouldn;t really watch this film again….I like gory films but this one is not one I liked at all…so rent if you must.
Great movie.
blew me away the french killed it again!brutal!
This movie turned me on to Alexandre Aja’s movies from the moment I saw this movie. This is flat out one of my favorite horror movies in the history of horror! This movie has so much to offer from start to finish, and the many clues hidden throughout the movie give a mindblowing ending that will leave you thinking, and thinking. This is one for the top 10! The cinematograpghy is gorgeous, the acting is great, the setting, and story alike are at it’s best. Cecile De France will give you an eyecandy performance that makes you feel her agony from begining to end. I have nothing horrible to say about this movie, for it’s a dark gemstone waiting to be found and admired.
ok movie. Had some good scenes like the whole decapitation on the stairwell. Kinda confusing in some spots. She’s supposedly the killer right. So when she is in the back of the truck, who’s driving it? Her? Plus how did she get an extension cord long enough to go out into the woods with that saw? I know that shit ain’t battery or gas powered.
this movie was fucking amazing!!!! the acting was oustanding!!!! and who knew the french could come up with some good horror films?
The end ruined this movie, it made it suck.
prety cool
Cool plot, lots of
I LOVE the ending. so messed up. psycho78, it’s basically what’s going on in her mind. she’s actually driving the truck, but that’s what her other “self” is doing in her mind. it’s her story according to her, and she’s a schitzo so it makes complete sense that she’s experiencing a different reality than what is actually happening. great movie, great gore, great tension, great story. no complaints from this guy
Awesome.
Have to agree with vampyreman on this one. Wtf? The ending fucks everything. Makes the whole movie unbelievable and asinine. It was only mediocre at best without the ending though.
Awesome movie! Very bloody and with good gore. Ending is great!
This movie was amazing, loved it from start to finish, totally had everything, twist at the end is flat out sick and I was impressed. LOVED IT!
10 out of 10 easily!
It was pretty good. Suspenseful[:
But the ending didn’t make sense.
Who drove the truck?Was the guy really her but made the audience think it wasn’t?
7/10
Great film ,very intense with awesome gore and ending that makes rethink what was real and what was in the head of the killer.If you can distort reality you’ll love this film.Aja is here to stay.
Horror classic. This film successfully trademarks the “victim is really the killer” plot.
High Tension restored my faith in “post 80′s” horror when I saw it.
the kick-ass most daringly original horror movie from France that started the new wave of brilliant French horror! Viva la France!
Doesn’t anybody realize that this movie doesn’t make sense? The victim/killer is in more than one place at once throughout most of this movie. The ending revelation is a slap in the face to the viewer. I cannot believe the praise this movie gets.
Perception is reality. Not always.
An enjoyable horror film using the UNRELIABLE NARRATOR device (which gives the filmmakers license to break all the rules), despite its obvious similarities to Koontz’s Intensity. Interesting to the very end. Highly recommended.
One of my favorites… This movie blew my mind both pyschologically and was one of the goriest twisted movies I’ve come across… This is a Very good horror and then the ending comes out of nowhere, its a must see for real HORROR fans…
I might be in the minority here, but I thought High Tension sucked. Really, really bad. I honestly hated this movie.
loved it! alex aja is my idol!
An excellent film, the gore was good, the characters easy to love and hate, the pace was perfect, this film is nearly flawless. The only thing keeping it from recieving the full 10 would be one or two contradictory moments in the story, but as a whole this movie was an excellent and creative masterpiece. Hats off to you Mr. Aja
I enjoyed this movie. The story was well paced. I’ve heard people talk about the ending making them not like the movie, not so with me. I thought it was one of the better movies i’ve seen in a while.
Very scary and the twist was okay. The end scene was phenomenal.
switchblade romance was an exceptional film.
there were tons of blood and it was really frightening.
the ending twist was kind of bizarre but i got over it.
all in all, switchblade romance was a very good horror movie that will stick with you.
This was a good movie. I didnt care much for the ending since ive seen it done before… but i enjoyed the gore factor….lots of blood…oh yes.
A mix between fight club and the texas chainsaw massacre. Good shit, go watch it.
simply incredible, been so rare since ive seen a film where needed a hot shower afterwards, film just gets under your skin and stays there been such a long time since ive had that in a generation full of saw and hostels amazing a film like this is capable of doing that
Loved this movie, a classic. Up there with the best of the 70s slasher movies. Has two of my fav things ever – gore and lesbians. What’s not to like?
This is probably one of the greatest horror films I have ever seen. The storyline is amazing, and the ending was one of the most shocking endings I have ever seen!!!
One of my all time favs!! It never lets up and I loved it all! I can’t believe it was dubbed to english and I didn’t give a s**t- it was that good! Bloody as hell, twisted, sick, and a wonderful rollercoaster ride through hell. I never would have guessed the french had it in them!!
One of the best horror movies of the past twenty years. I wasn’t even close in figuring out the twist and the writers had some really unique kill scenes. I definitely recommend it.
This film surprised me to say the least. I remember aee previews when it was being released in america so i waited like two monhs for it to be released in cheap theater and man was it a total gorefest with nonstop suspense. awesme movie. My Girlfriend also enjoyed it which shocked me.
some decent scenes, but the twist was retarded and so was the ending
This movie is average at best. The Hills Remake was a Great film from Alexandre Aja. But this was for most part a waste of time. To me I have not been Impressed with Torture porn or the new French wave I think it is all over hyped.
Very awesome movie. Great acting by the lead actress, awesome kill scenes, and an ending that, if somewhat flawed, you’ll -never see coming-…
This movie had good gore, a killer who was stalking his prey in such a menacing way, good action,acting,and suspence. The twist was good just not great. Some english, some french with english sub titles. I liked it.
IMO the best horror film of this decade.
It was okay, can someone please, please explain the ending to me!!!!! Maybe than I can like it more if I wasnt so confused on the end.
For fans who love slasher films. Great gore fest and a deep feeling of dread throughout the whole film. I must admit I didn’t like the payoff as i though it creadted many plot holes, but yet again this is a slasher film and who cares for plot holes. THis movie made me realize the real horror films of this era are being made in France and not Hollywood. This film was what made me come around to Inside, Martyes, frontiers,them, irreversible, sheitan. I would reccomend all of them.
pretty cool..I enjoyed it
The dresser / staircase decapitation was completely unrealistic but other than that it was a pretty good movie.
This movie was possibly one of the most retarted slashers Ive ever seen, the twist was rediculous. How the hell did the girl end up with the truck and the chains, and end up at the front door while diddling herself? I know slahers are ment to have a few holes, but c’mon, M. Night Shyamalan would even be a bit lost at the end. It was a decent first half of the movie, but fuck, how an ending can ruin a movie all together. Wrong turn 3 was better than this, and that was pretty much Oz goes camping. …I really, really hope this isnt the rebirth of the slashers…
*Spoiler Alert*
Any people who don’t get the twist of this movie are idiots.
The girl is telling her story. It’s subjective. Obviously it won’t be logical BECAUSE SHE’S A SCHIZOPHRENIC MANIAC. That’s how she chooses to remember the events in her own mind.
Great movie… tons of Tension (no pun intended), gore, acting, and suspense.
The was retarded & a little disturbing at the same time (don’t know why?), and why the did they
have to show the little boy’s body? I’m at least
glad they never showed him get shot and than show
his body 2 seconds later,that would’ve been too
damn much. Poor dog got it too damn it. I’d say
the first half was great than the second half
just took a huge nose dive to hell.
I have to say, the French keep giving us some damn fine horror! I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through and the story was so effective. I liked the gore, and thought there was plenty of it. The twist adds another interesting dimension to the film, making it altogether more interesting. Stop going on about how stupid the twist was! IT’S VERY SIMPLE! I won’t explain it here, because I don’t want to give anything away but if you would like an answer please email me. Anyway, the film was full on tension and had plenty of suspenseful, brutal and action paxked scenes. WATCH NOW!
Damn what a movie especially the part with the delivry guy and the dad WOW! of and the scene with the mom damn that was brutal! Anyway this one was great and that french chick is hot covered in blood with that tight shirt. Yea…id watch it again!
One of my all time favorite horror films.
Can’t recommend it enough.
Watched this years ago and it was amazing. Watched it a while ago and it still is amazing. One of the best horror movies to date. I thank this movie because it inspired me to watch other films and become a horror addict.
Highly recommended.
A slasher film for the 21st century. Super tense, ultra bloody, and a great performance by Phillipe Nahon as the killer. Alex Aja may be the King of French horror, which is currently kicking everyone’s asses. And for those who complain about the twist ending, you obviously weren’t paying attention at the beginning. Plus it’s beautifully shot and great to look at, with an amazing score.
simply awesome and sick!!!! this movie has moved into my top 20!!! great story line and twists. this is going to be a classic!!!!
Bloody and violent kills, ample action, and mixed together with a twist. Totally agree there are some serious head-scratchers as far as some of the means attained in the movie and how that might turn some viewers off. But if putting that aside, then this can be enjoyed as a very entertaining horror flick. Liked this a little more than Martyrs (because of the sucky 2nd half of Martyrs), but less than the great Inside.
I think I have seen this before ohh yes Intensity. This movie is just a gory version of intensity, seriously some of the scenes are exactly the same. Ill admit I like this better but at least give Dean Koontz some credit.
……
On my list of all time favorite horror films ever.
New French Extremity is a term I love to say because Unlike torture porn (which I also love to say), it means that its french, and french people are violent! French Technical Deathmetal (look it up! Gojira, Hacride), the riots they cant seem to ever stop, and a war record that is No. 1(they have won more wars overall than the united states, U.K., and germany combined, not all stereotypes are true), and now this if the french basterds can take what was gore and pain and some how create this very unique pieces I say lets thank these old world basterds and see some people die!
Three letters for you: WTF? What could have been a sensational horror film is turned into trite, head scratching by a director who couldn’t just leave well enough alone. There’ve been plenty of others who have lambasted the finish of this movie, so I won’t bore you with the details other than to say why can’t directors just play to their strengths. Let’s not get all greedy with the thing – god! Just kill people cuz that’s what you were doing really well. Still have to give it 3 1/2 skulls because there is some really well done stuff, but I was absolutely furious by the time the end credits ran.
aahhh…..french horror is quite brilliant…..its gory n fiercely violent…bt d end is predictable……dint like d twist bt had a joyride till den……d death scenes add a new dimension 2 d movie n surely do make it memorable……..nt as good as martyrs or inside bt definetly worth a watch……..
A stylish and gruelling film with an incredible twist. Beautifully acted by all, particularly the two lead actresses. This is French film at its best and sets the benchmark for all horror films very, very high. The production values were excellent. Vive la France! 10/10
I went into the movie expecting brilliance and came out feeling conflicted. While tense and masterful throughout, it becomes unraveled in the final act. The twist is implausible, motives underdeveloped. While I think it is highly over rated it’s still worth a watch.
great
I watched the Unrated French version. Well done. “High Tension” ranks with the very best of horror films.
First off, the film is beautifully shot; great colors and tasteful camera work. You can almost smell the French countryside.
Giannetto De Rossi is brilliant in the make-up department. VERY, very convincing trauma and gore. There is plenty of it, too. If you’re a gorehound, you will love this movie.
Philippe Nahon is great as the homicidal maniac. His performance is up there with John Jarratt in “Wolf Creek”.
The last 10 minutes did not bother me at all. In fact, it answered all of the questions swirling in my mind from the first 15-25 minutes of the film.
Alexandre Aja is my new favorite horror director. So far I’ve only seen this and his re-make of “The HIlls Have Eyes”.
“High Tension” is an easy five skulls.
Great movie!
This is the third of four reviews of the new wave in French horror. “High Tension” or “Switchblade Romance” as it is also called was made in 2003 and was the movie that really set this whole wave into motion. Director Alexandre Aja whose American film debut in 2006 was the remake of “The Hills Have Eyes” was given rave reviews earlier on my blog. His next film “Mirrors” was a huge disappointment and now with “Piranha 3-D” will be hitting theaters later this summer. Let hope for the best.
“High Tension” is a well paced, well made horror classic until the final act almost kills it in a hugely illogical WTF twist. Two female college students Marie and Alex drive out to Alex’s parents place in the country to study for exams. Marie is a tall, muscular and smart girl with a very short blonde haircut that reminds you of Mia Farrow in “Rosemary’s Baby”. Marie and Alex are best friends, but even though they talk about possible boyfriends. Marie seems to be more interested in a serious relationship with Alex. When everybody goes to bed, just like in the previous movie “Inside”, a knock at the front door in the middle of the night set the rest of the movie in motion.
A stocky older man dressed in a grungy old work jumpsuit and a baseball hat goes to town on Alex’s family. He is a silent evil force to be reckoned with, kind of like a Michael Myers type killer. Marie and the killer play this kind of cat and mouse game and is able to stay hidden. The kills are quite brutal and visceral. Even their little boy is dispatched with as he tries to escape into the corn field. The killer takes Alex with him to who knows where, while Marie is able to tag along without him knowing. There is a tension filled scene at a truck stop, when the killer becomes aware of Marie. These two have it out in the woods later and this also starts the completely bullshit third act. I give the filmmakers credit for having the balls to take the story in this direction, but with everything we’ve seen so far, this last part really makes no sense. That being said I still think this is one of the best horror movies in the last decade. The characters are smart and so is the script. It piles on the blood and gore and is thoroughly satisfying.
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This movie literally made Alexandre Aja my favorite director in the world. I didn’t see the twist coming at all, probably because I was too busy saying “holy shit” throughout the entire movie to think. This really seemed to pave horror movies as we know it.
High Tension was probably the most interesting horror movies I’ve seen in 2010. The twisting storyline which completely deserves credit, and has one wanting to watch it again to see where the camera direction was taken to mold together characters involvement with one another.
Cool movie, very recommended and easily one of the best of 2010.
Didn’t like it from the moment I realized it was ripping off of Intensity (and didn’t continue watching it when the guy in the truck was making the decapitated head give head). I was too disgusted to continue. I wanted to check it out cause I was intrigued but that not intrigued to go past that point. If you’re going to borrow THAT heavily from another source then at least cite it (if they didn’t). Makes me think of The Island and Parts: The Clonus Horror, except that ripping was way worse.
this movie comes out of the gate swinging and just punches you right in the face! talk about high tension? fucking a right. the death scenes are some of the best that i have ever seen in any movie, but the sound fx and music really get the movie going at a non-stop pace. people all complain about the ending, and i kinda have to also. didn’t really make sense, i think that maybe it was put in there to make a great movie even better, but it really just fucked it up. definately worth seeing. PLEASE WATCH THIS MOVIE!!
the twist at the end made a lot of the scenes seem impossible and incapable of happening but was still a truely great movie.
Staircase decapitation scene = badass.
this was really pretty good. very brutal. unfortunately on the version i watched, it went back to french during the only scene where the killer talks (in the petrol station). That wasn’t so much of a problem though, the suspense was intense enough to keep you engaged.
But I would agree with the others that say that the twist at the end was pretty unnescesarry
Sucked French Dick! The Goonies was scarier! The twist ending was a notch below even M. Night. Shyamalan usual bullshit.
Some people felt ripped off by the ending but they just don’t have an imagination.I watched this in theaters and saw people getting up and walking out because of the violence.I thought it was an awesome movie,very brutal and well acted.
Nothing like a psychopathic lesbian killer in love with her best friend not the great french horror but still worth a watch.
A great French horror film! Loved this one!
Did i miss something? Dont get me wrong, it wasnt bad at all but i dont get why everybody loves this one so much. It was entertaining and it was very intense in places but i definately wasnt blown away by it like alot of people were. Worth a watch though
Just…. AMAZING!
One of the scariest in years!
Amazing.
Brilliant film, I ignore the twist and pretend it never happened. lol
I don’t believe that this is the “slasher film genre savior” that everyone has been calling it, but “High Tension” still makes for a pretty decent horror-thriller. It lives up to its name; it is tense, with tension, therefore. It may sicken some, intrigue some, and piss off some; it did a little bit of all three for me.
The plot is simple, and has many slasher cliches, but most won’t care. It involves a woman who is driven to nigh instanity when a killer begins murdering her friends right in front of her own eyes. This involves a lot of screaming, a lot of gore, and yes, a lot of running around. The plot is a no-hold thrill-ride, and it’s plenty exciting, but then comes the problematic stuff.
The film really pissed me off with its ending. It’s absurd, lame, and poorly though-out, if you ask me. The rest of the film is fairly entertaining without being completely exploitative, and some of the violence feels like it was intended to entertain. Therefore, there are things to admire about this movie, and the viewing was not regrettable. Not “scary”, per se, but thrilling, and not without its limits. But this is bloodier, brutal slasher stuff; and it will be liked by many horror fans. I just didn’t find it all that fascinating.
The pre-credits sequence is all post-attack. Alex and ? are lesbians? Classic trapped in the house premise starts right away. Nice throat slash. I never realized how like a slasher film this really is. I don’t think the twist is possible…investigate further.
Decapitated head… giving a blowjob? Yep.
Hobo Approved(TM)
SUPER MADNESS!!!! This film was just so fucking awesome(pardon my french) The film is gory, awesome madness. Recommended for every horror fan.
This movie was fucking awesome. The twist…not so awesome. But you can easily get past how silly it is. It’s beautifully gory and a total thrill ride and every fan of foreign horror or horror in general needs to watch this.
Good stuff. Still the best French horror film of the past decade.
Surprisingly good! A twisted horror with a psychological element. Great twist! Love the ending
Now I do prefer the title Switchblade romance to High Tension. This is the film that supposedly kicked off the New Wave of French horror. It is excellent up to a point the first half of the film has atmosphere and remains creepy, however it has more plot holes than a back road in West Virginia has potholes and quite frankly not just plot holes, but there are scenes that could not possibly exist in context of the film, even the average zombie flick will at least follow some set of rules, however High Tension is a film that cares only about its twist and that makes it sad. This seems to be the thing about the New wave the twist is all that matters and everything else that comes before it is a waste of time. I did like this movie, but honestly it is far from great.
High Tension is right! And boy, there’s a lot of it!
This movie was a thrilling roller coaster ride of complete mayhem.
Relentless depraved killer continually stalking survivors after a home invasion. Keeps you on the edge of the seat. I’ll have to watch it again sometime but I don’t think the twist at the end is possible without rewriting the story to make it all fit.
This is my least favourite out of the 5 french films that have made it to my DVD player and just because it ranks last in my French category doesn’t mean its a bad movie at all.
This had great suspense and the kills were great! Lots of blood and demented acts with a decapitated head make it it an awesome shock film. The killing of the mother was my favourite out of all of it.
The twist did throw me off at first and when you watch it again its funny to think that she is doing it all. I dont think its all that complicated as people may think but this is just my opinion. But i view it as that all of the shit happening, for example her hiding in the closest while really killing her mother, i say its all in her head.
But this movie was still very good and really cool to watch, great for friends! And if any pay attention its fun to see the reactions as they see the twist, good stuff!
Not bad.
Please oh please, why won’t people pay attention to the beginning of the movie. She’s telling the story from her perspective. She’s crazy, its not supposed to make sense. “is it recording?” Remember! The twist was great, the plot, the sound effects are narley. Gritty, intense, everything…must have seen this 10 times or more, and it keeps getting better. Watch it more than once, than it will make more sense.
Brutal, Yet Captivating, thrilling and wildly suspenceful High Tension is seriously Alexandre Aja’s best movie since The Hills Have Eyes(remake) and Piranha 3D. High Tension is a great film that is almost like a 70′s slasher horror film because the movie has lots of throwback 70′s horror film themes from the beginning until the end and yet this movie seriously lives with the scares and tension. And Alexandre Aja seriously is one of the best Horror directors since Brad Anderson, Wes Craven and Sam Raimi along with John Carpenter and Clive Barker. Seriously Alexandre Aja’s first Horror film is so captivating and he seriously did an amazing job with bringing all the thrills on the screen with loads of gore and maximum outrageous non stop graphic violence that’s too disturbing, too graphic and mostly too shocking and brutal for theaters. I seriously like the plot of this movie and this film really has a well paced plot which I personally like so far. What’s great about High Tension is that the film is full of out of control sound effects and it also has a haunting music that will send shivers on your spine. Not only that this film is full of wild scares and out of control suspenceful sequences and mostly there’s loads of beautiful gore effects in this movie which makes the film at least ten times better as it goes on. I did enjoy this movie so far. What I also like about this movie is that the tones and themes of the film are seriously eerie and rattling plus intense as well. Since this movie does have a unique tone and theme that is super eerie an intense it instantly makes the movie even better. What I also like about High Tension is that the film is filled with loads of gore and the gore meter in this film seriously went super high and infinite as well and the movie is seriously full of onscreen and heart pounding plus brutal kill sequences that will make you squirm from start to finish. What I like about the kills is that the kills are seriously done in a 70′s throwback all the kills are seriously done in a 70′s style so far and they really look super classic and old school as well. There are lots of kill scenes in this movie that are so 70′s and this include the beheading of the father with the shelf, The electric Saw scene and the throat slashing scene and let’s not forget the gas station scene in the film plus the scene when the protagonist brutally beats and mauls the killer to death with a wood wrapped with Barb wire on the top those are one of the most 70′s kill scenes I’ve ever scene in the movie so far. What I also like about this film is that the gore effects are also done in a 70′s style and Gianetto De Rossi(Lucio Fulci’s favorite special effects artist) did a unique and incredible job with the gore effects in the movie so far and I was really proud with the movie. I also like the acting in this movie the main lead and the other casts were really good with their performances in the movie so far. Director Alexandre Aja seriously did a good job with his directing with his first horror movie so far and this is his best work since The Hills Have Eyes remake and Piranha 3D. Overall High Tension gets a 10/10.