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High Tension
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MPAA RATING: R for graphic bloody killings, terror, sexual content and language
Starring Cécile De France, Maïwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun, Andrei Finti, Oana Pellea, Marco Claudiu Pascu, and Jean-Claude de Goros
A white-knuckle journey into the heart of fear, this is the terrifying story of two girls' battle for survival at the hands of a sadistic psychopath. (Lions Gate Films)
| GENRE(S): | Crime | Foreign | Horror | Suspense/Thriller |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Alexandre Aja
Grégory Levasseur |
| DIRECTED BY: | Alexandre Aja |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: October 11, 2005 Video: October 11, 2005 Theatrical: June 10, 2005 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 85 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | France |
| LANGUAGE(S): | French / English / Italian (with English subtitles) |
Original title "Haute Tension"
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 4.7 (out of 10) based on 38 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
RavenX301 gave it a4:
I just got done watching this flim on the Movie network. Not very good. I would have given it a 7 or close 8 if it wasn't for the fact that TOoooooo many things have to be forgiven for the ending to work. At first it was good. It was like the old school slasher when there were very few poeple and that ONE killer. But thinking back on the sences after seeing the ending is too weird. At first (like I said) it seemed like maybe it was biulding to some kind of 'kitty' slasher and Texas Chainsaw Massarce, and unlike Riren who thinks that this has bee done so much (I;ve seen thousands of movies including over seas and this polt isnt AS overdone as you seem to think) No....I dont mind the story if it wasn't for ALL those mistakes after knowing the ending. There was a cool move on the surrvilence camera that really surpised me, but only because the movie was so outrageously pointing in one completley differnet way. The movie is way to out there that it makes it too impossible to understand becasue of the lack of actual common sense in a movie thats trying to make you believe in it.
Riren gave it a3:
High Tension has a twist ending that's simply been done too much now, and this is the worst execution of that particular twist ending to date. I won't spoil it for you, but honestly, this thing has been too many times to be novel, and too few times to be acceptable when repeated. It's like a slap in the face after you've put up with all the overreaching "tension" of the movie. The movie earns its credit with disgusting (if occasionally physically implausible - you can't behead someone by pushing a bureau against them) deaths and its dirtier, more realistic vision of the world. It can certainly make you squirm, but not as often as a horror lover might hope. Indeed, its ultimate lack of substance is the most bothersome part of the film, until you realize there was supposed to be something deeper going on all along. Then it all falls apart, in a pile of gore.
Drake D. gave it a5:
Well, I've been waiting quite a long time for this movie to come out on dvd and when i whatched it, it seemed a waste of time, but it kept me thinking throughout the movie. it deserves a 5 no more though.
John F. gave it a9:
I have no idea who "Chad S" is, nor do I have any idea what the "Metacritic Advance Scout Team" entails. But I must ask... why are poorly written, xenophobic rants given a stamp of approval on this site? This cretin's profoundly idiotic review (which housed some of the worst grammar in the history of the English language) not only misunderstood the film in question, but also managed to throw in some indescribably vulgar cultural elitism that couldn't possibly have been more wide of the mark. I like this site. But don't start bigging up meatheaded mouth breathers, lest your fanbase head for the tomato hills.... ANYWAY, this film is superb. The infamous plot twist IS a massive misjudgement, but when a director has spent the past eighty minutes thrilling you to the bone, forgiveness is all that it deserves. A cult classic in the making.
Joe b gave it a6:
Ending was weird. Movie predictable. Not bad, certainly not Good.
Luke L gave it an8:
No, the story wasn't all that great, but it kept me gritting my teeth and sitting on edge, which is a tribute to the camera work and editing. Brutal, but that is what a slasher film is suppose to be. Ending twist was so much better than what Hollywood ever puts out and that flashlight swaying back and forth - classic suspense.
Robby T. gave it a7:
Honestly, High Tension is not a good movie... but I loved it! it is the definition of what a horror movie was supposed to be ten years ago. So get out your official Slasher handbook and let's run down the checklist. Weapons: axe, butcher knife, barbwire, shotgun, chainsaw, revolver, switchblade. Check. We'll obviously need a dark cornfield (must be easy to get lost in). Check. Cut the phone lines. The police should be of absolutely no help. Check and check. Stir in some nudity and extremely graphic violence (including, but not limited to, decapitation). Check. But wait... there must be a twist... one that has been used so much that the viewer almost might not be expecting it. Check. How about some creepy music? Muse's "New Born" fits so perfectly in this film that it is amazing it wasn't tailor made for it. Bottom line: if you want to see a horror movie that reminds you why you started watching horror movies in the first place... High Tension fits the bill. Although (ironically) the film is entirely in French. Wait! I almost forgot the most important part: Enough blood to flood New Orleans all over again... Check.
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