High Tension (2005)

Home to some of the world's best food and fashion, the French also have the wonderful habit of producing some of the world's best movies. With High Tension, French director Alexandre Aja offers up a bloody buffet of terror; a violent concoction of style over substance, with a bloody French twist. Two college girlfriends, Maria and Alex, take a weekend to study at the secluded country home of Alex's parents. Shortly after their arrival, a mysterious killer appears, and things take a shockingly terrible turn for the worse. As the horror and body count rises, Maria and Alex find themselves fighting for their lives, and it's revealed that things are not exactly as they seem. Essentially a one-act cat-and-mouse affair, High Tension is an explosive bloody thrill ride that rarely lets up. Oozing style in every color-saturated frame and boasting some intense performances, Aja mainly succeeds in sustaining an intense momentum throughout the film. The plot occasionally suffers from a thin, flimsy storyline, and the abundant graphic scenes of violence will either thrill and delight, or simply disgust. Nonetheless, this adrenalin-fueled addition to the genre gives the American slasher flick a real run for its money. High Tension is high-art horror, and comes highly recommended. --Matt Wold Amazon.com

Not bad, not great

Well, first and most obvious is the poor dubbing of this movie. It's a french film with english voiced over. But... only some parts were voiced, and the rest (almost half) remains in french. There weren't even subtitles. I found this distracting me from the plot, since I didn't know what they were communicating.

Many people complain about the plot twist at the end, but I don't think it really damages the story. The plot twist makes sense given the context (a story is being told). The story is almost like a psychological mystery for the audience once the plot twist takes place. I liked it.

Aside from the plot twist, the rest of the story was a decent slasher film - filled with exciting visuals, cool effects, and scary situations. The characters behaviors were rather ridiculous though. In context of the plot twist it seems reasonable, BUT this is no excuse to give the audience unrealistic action. This being the core of the film, I wasn't thrilled.

Bad dubbing, poor realism, but decent slasher material, and a cool twist. Very much worth a rent. October 13, 2008

French should leave the horror to the Asians

It appears this horror/thriller flick is a fan favorite here. I gotta disagree. It had potential Ill give it that. Some parts were well done- sure. In fact it wasn't bad either. But the twist ending had me asking so many questions like "how is that even possible" . The ending ruined the realism which brings any horror movie to life. Just thinking this could totaly happen adds to the thrills. October 4, 2008

SOOOOOOOOO AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I held off watching this movie for a couple of years. All the while, so many people told me how awesome it was. Constantly ranked on people's top horror movies of all time, and top foreign horror movies. I'm a big fan of horror movies and foreign adds to it (they are more original than we are). Watching this movie, it just took me back to a time where "killer in your house" slasher movies were king and the sky was the limit to the brutality someone can go through. This movie absolutely gets on my top 10 horror movies of all time. July 30, 2008

Why? **CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS TOWARDS THE END**

What did we do to deserve this?? Is this retaliation for the whole Freedom Fries thing?? Seriously though. This film is awful. The ending surprise is given away in the first 10 minutes. The gore is over the top and poorly done. The film slips from English dubbed to French in the middle for about 20 minutes. Did you forget to voice over that part? Were you too busy trying to understand the movie yourself? Don't get me wrong, I understand the movie. It's a pretty shallow concept, that could've made for a good yarn if the idiots in charge of this thing would've put a little time and consideration into the continuity of the film. The whole premice of the movie is a giant plot hole.

**SPOILERS AHEAD** I can handle poor effects and low budget if there's continuity, but this is just dumb. I've tried to make sense of it, even going out on limbs but it just doesn't work! Split personalities don't drive two vehicles simultaniously! BAH! STUPID! July 12, 2008

AWESOME FLICK!

This movie is like no other- I highly recommend it if you like moies that make you think! July 2, 2008

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