Haute Tension is about two female friends, named Marie and Alexa, are to visit Alex's parents in the country. When gotten settled in and are about to go to sleep in the evening, a car pulls up next to the house and a man breaks in and kills everyone in the house except for Marie who gets away and Alexa who the killer takes with him. Marie then tries to follow the killer to save her friend but will she make it?
There has been a lot of fuzz about Haute Tension and a lot of people seem to be somewhat amazed by the movie. So what's so special about it? I wouldn't say that there's anything really special about it except for that it feels very fresh compared to a lot of similar movies out there, and also that it gives gorehounds what they want and that is gore.
I guess it also helps that it's a french movie, it makes it a bit different too since there a thousands of movies like this that has come out of the states. And the french also has this thing for making dark films and movies that feels a bit more realistic, that's how I feel about it anyway.
It sounds simple but everything is not what it seems and that is what Haute Tension is all about. It also gives you a somewhat clever twist in the end which actually works well.
The actors do a fine job keeping the suspense and fear alive and the killer is bizarre and merciless and is really cool to watch. The title is very appropriate since the movie carries a lot of tension and suspense.
Usually with these types of movies you don't really care to much about the killings but Haute Tension will make you sit on the edge of your seat, well that may not apply for all but still, it's a adrenaline rush from beginning to end. It also has a fair share of gore and some really gruesome scenes.
I guess the movie has already achieved some cult status, and I guess it will become a horror classic in a not too distant future. Do yourself a favor and watch it along with Alexandre Aja's The Hills Have Eyes remake.
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ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Switchblade Romance
Haute Tension
MOVIE YEAR: 2003
DIRECTOR: Alexandre Aja
WRITING CREDITS: Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur
GENRE: Horror
CAST: Cécile De France, Maïwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon
COUNTRY: France
RUNTIME: 91 min
RATING: 8/10
High Tension Website/IMDB Click here
High Tension Trailer Click here
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