X
- 2005
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 31 m
- 2005
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 31 m
Summary 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)
Directed By: Alexandre Aja
Written By: Grégory Levasseur, Alexandre Aja
- 2005
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 31 m
- 2005
- R
- Lionsgate Films
- 1 h 31 m
High Tension
42
6.7
Where to Watch
Summary 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)
Directed By: Alexandre Aja
Written By: Grégory Levasseur, Alexandre Aja
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 30 Critic Reviews
42
23% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
53% Mixed
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
23% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 30 Critic Reviews
42
23% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
53% Mixed
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
23% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
A movie that wants you to squirm in your seat and judged by that standard, it works brilliantly.
I was annoyed by Levasseur and Aja's desertion of their tense, simple plot in favor of tedious "plot twists" that could, frankly, use a rest. It's a waste of a good first half. (Grade: A- for first hour, C- thereafter.)
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 63 User Ratings
6.7
59% Positive
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
32% Mixed
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
10% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 63 User Ratings
6.7
59% Positive
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
32% Mixed
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
10% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Un film angoissant et bien dans l'esprit du cinÃma d'horreur francais, avec une cecile de france convanquante dans son role pourtant compliquà a jouer.
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*SPOILER* This is a brilliant but totally divisive horror film amongst genre fans. Originally titled Switchblade Romance Lionsgate picked up the release along with House of 1000 Corpses to rope in starved horror audiences. Sadly the domestic release had awful dubbing but the goods were still there. It centers around two young women Marie and Alexia who are driving into the French countryside to spend time with family and do some studying. Late at night they are attacked by a brutal serial killer who kills Alexia's family including her little brother and takes her hostage. Marie is the only one to get away and chooses to follow the man which leads us to some of the most intense sequences ever seen in the genre. As the movie barrels towards it's fierce climax we suddenly are made aware that Marie is the actual villain and we've been experiencing the film through her minds eye. This is what pushes people off alot because they feel very misled. But in my opinion the twist really works and even enhances the proceedings because Marie has a romantic crush on Alexia and because of her inability to be honest about her feelings it has led her to create a violent persona as an outlet. Sure it's a lot to bite but it's quite intriguing. Also splatter movie fans won't be disappointed because theres a multitude of impressive cringe worthy practical effects and waves of the red stuff. Cecille De France is amazing as Marie making the character feel genuine on every front. And as for the direction from future star film maker Alexander Aja the movie is an inspired work of genre cinema showing a ton of promise and a truly refreshing outlook.
Budget: $2.5M
Box Office: $6.8M
8.5/10
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Deftly juggles gore and suspense, and punchline holds an intellectual frisson or two for fans of gender-role speculation, but basically this is one more horror pic on the distinguished road already trodden by "Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Maniac" and the like.
Borderline reprehensible, High Tension is a living nightmare, but then, why else would you see it?
It can only be said that if you like this sort of thing, then this is the sort of thing you like.
One of the ugliest movies I've ever seen. Even though it occurs mostly in the dark, the open flesh wounds are both graphic and implausible.
The movie is a model of multinational incompetence.
This film is an excellent shocker, which is more than I can say for most contemporary horror films.
The style in which its shot keeps the viewer on edge until the end and the soundtrack adds to the heightened feeling of terror Alexandre Aja has created another great modern slasher horror movie. Be warned this film is not for the faint hearted but a must see for any horror fan. Alexandre Aja is part of The Splat pack who all look up to and worship Tarantino so it is not surprising that the violence is so superbly gritty.
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Brutal, violenta y sangrienta con no tantas, pero contundentes dosis de gore que son los elementos que mejor sostienen esta película, cuya historia no es tan interesante, tiene unos cuantos agujeros de guión y la protagonista es bastante pendeja, lo cual hasta ese momento me había parecido un factor negativo, pero al final comprendí más o menos el por qué, el plot twist sorprende relativamente bien, pero no tiene profundidad alguna, en fin, es el gore lo que hace entretenida esta cinta.
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A film that for all its duration really knows how to give a '' high tension '', which makes us fond of his characters and invites us to watch it until the end.
And that is probably the only one, but big, defect that destroys almost the whole film: a totally disconnected, meaningless ending that goes to create flaws in the script that unfortunately can not be ignored.
A pity, because with a more logical ending this film could have overcome the mere sufficiency.
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Not a good movie. This film is sooo boring. The twist at the end was the most disturbing thing. I mean what the hell..... I also cant understand that this film have so much gore and blood in it?! Before i watched the film i thought i get much more and blood to see, like in SAW. But in the end this movie is a standard horrormovie like nearly every horrormovie. "2 Teenagers drive across the countryside to their parents after some time they get kidnaped and they must escape!" This is soo boring!!
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The gore was probably the only good thing about this movie. The acting is laughable at best, The plot is your generic horror movie plot (Friends arrive at a family member's house when a killer shows up to ruin the fun) and lame attempts at suspense just fall flat. Even the twist ending, which was alright but predictable by the time it's revealed, doesn't do anything to save it.
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Production Company
Alexandre Films,
EuropaCorp
Release Date Jun 10, 2005
Duration 1 h 31 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline Someone is hunting everyone around her...
Awards
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
• 4 Wins & 5 Nominations
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Scream Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
