High Tension (2003)

Director: Alexandre Aja

Writer: Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur

Tagline: Hearts will bleed.

Actors: Cécile De France, Maïwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun, Andrei Finti, Oana Pellea, Marco Claudiu Pascu, Jean-Claude de Goros, Bogdan Uritescu, Gabriel Spahiu

Runtime: 1h 31m

Category: Killer, French, Psychological, Thriller

Synopsis: Hoping to get away for a weekend of hardcore studying, best friends Marie and Alexia decide to drive to Alexia’s parent’s farmhouse out in the French countryside for some peace and quiet. But, their idyllic peace is cut short when, in the middle of the night, a stranger knocks on the door. After the first swing of the knife starts a night of endless death and horror.

Review: Honestly, I have to say I love this movie. Everything about this film screams terror. The script was incredible; not too over the top; not too grandiose. It never tried to be something it wasn’t. The movie concentrated on the psychological side of horror instead of creating some impossible killer and fantasy situations like some movies; Friday the 13th (1980) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) just to name a couple. The writers gave us a real family, real friends and a real killer just as human as everyone else.

The script and dialog impressed me. Instead of filming it totally in French and sub-titling it, they used the actor’s real voices and accents, making it just that much more interesting.

Suspense was built almost immediately, and it kept you on the edge of your seat the entire film. More than scary, I found High Tension (2003) incredibly creepy. The killer was creepy, and dare I say…detached from humanity. It didn’t seem to bother him to take a guy’s head off with a heavy-ass dresser; or even killing a child who was no threat to him at all.

In the end, the ultimate mind-screw, the thing that makes this a successful movie is the revelation that the friend has snapped and is the killer; and she killed for love of her friend. The greatest, most mind-blowing scene, is where Marie is sitting in the mental institution, turns to the two-way mirror and reaches out to Alexia, even though she can’t see her and doesn’t know if anyone is even there…really freakin’ awesome/creepy. Enough to leave chills up your spine!

Rating: 25. This movie was top notch. I would recommend this to every horror movie fanatic; although I would personally classify this as suspense/mental terror. Either category can’t take away from how kick ass this movie is. From beginning to end this movie keeps you in suspense. Sheesh! Some of these American directors need to take a lesson from the French. They may be a land of poofy cheese-eaters, but they know their shut when it comes to horror films. Nuff said bitches! (25of25).