Haute Tension (2003) 10/10

Mr_Vindictive · December 15, 2004, 08:50:00 PM

Just as with the other flicks I've reviewed lately, this is another foreign film I've had my eye on for a while. Finally got around to obtaining a dubbed (ugh) copy and I think I'm going to vomit.

Well, in a good way.

The film follows a young college girl and her friend who decide to study at the friend's family house over the weekend. They are far from civilization, out in the middle of the french country side at their farm. The first night they are there, a crazed mad man rips through the entire family. He takes the daughter with him, and the friend hides in the vehicle in order to save the friend's life.

This should sound EXTREMELY familiar if any of you have read "Intensity" by Dean Koontz. I was amazed at just how much of this film was lifted from Koontz's book. The first hour was almost an exact copy of Intensity. Hell, the name "High Tension" is even quite similar to "Intensity".

The thing that sets this film apart is the violence. Oh My God....the violence. This is quite possibly the most violent film I have ever seen in my life. Within the first five minutes, you realize that you are watching some DEEP DARK s**t go down. I can't even begin to explain the murders in this flick. They are disgusting and shot with such maolvence that you can feel almost pure evil emitting from the screen.

And, High Tension explains the film perfectly. I felt like I was going to get an ulcer by the end of it. Just when the flick puts you in a comfortable place and you begin to relax, then BOOM some more crazy s**t goes down and puts you right back in the insanity.

The film also has a bit of a good twist at the end. I had it partially figured out about 10 minutes before the big reveal, but it doesn't take anything away from the film.

Overall this is a film to see. Make sure you have a strong stomach cause it's seriously strong in the violence department. I can't believe this film hasn't be hearled as the comeback of the slasher genre! If you guys want to see it, it looks like it's gonna get a limited release here in the states around Valentine's Day. Seems like they're trying to push it as a romance film. Which makes sense if you watch the film.

Anyone else heard of this flick? Thoughts!?

Brother Ragnarok · December 16, 2004, 01:26:18 AM

I can't wait 'til Lions Gate puts this bad boy out, and it's keeping its NC-17! Yeeeha!

Mr_Vindictive · December 16, 2004, 07:39:21 AM

Damn right Brother R. Lion's Gate is really doing a great job when it comes to releasing fantastic horror films.

Have you seen this one yet?

Neville · December 16, 2004, 11:04:17 AM

I was wondering how much time it would take before any of you mentioned this one on the board. Saw it a couple of weeks ago and tried not too think too much on it. It is a very, very good film. Slyly, its creators have tried it to be as more realistic as possible, and as a result when the violence starts kicking in your stomach won't feel the same for several days. I loved it, but I'm not watching it again , at least not soon, and I have quite a strong stomach myself. The only complaint I have with the film is the ending. I won't discuss it because I don't want to ruin it for anybody. I'll just say that it comes absolutetely out of the blue, and that if I have to be toyed with, I like it done with more sublety.

Anyway, it is a great film, so all you horror hounds of the board should start ordering copies ASAP.

Brother Ragnarok · December 16, 2004, 11:07:13 AM

No, I haven't seen it yet. I've known for a while that it was going to hit American theaters sooner or later, so I didn't bother looking for any crappy bootlegs. My first experience will be pure.

Mr_Vindictive · December 16, 2004, 11:08:56 AM

Neville,

The violence is quite realistic, and as you said, stomach churning.

As for the twist, I was p**sed as well. But, after thinking back about it, I've learned that it was actually very very very very subtle. Email me about it, and I'll let you know what I mean

Mr_Vindictive · December 16, 2004, 11:50:07 AM

I don't blame you Brother R. I had been wanting to see this flick since last year, and thankfully it was a decent copy. My only problem was that it was dubbed. The dubbing was pretty bad. The mother had a man doing the dubbing, it was extremely obvious.

Thankfully there isn't a lot of talking in this film.

Chopper · December 16, 2004, 11:56:45 AM

sounds like a winner, i think i read an article about this in fangoria.

Mr_Vindictive · December 16, 2004, 03:51:38 PM

Chopper,

Man it's seriously a winner. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a horror film in YEARS. By far one of the best horror films I've ever seen

Mr_Vindictive · December 17, 2004, 09:52:41 AM

Just did a search on Alexandre Aja, the director and it looks like he's slated to direct the new "Hills Have Eyes" remake.

Jack Corbett · February 12, 2005, 12:37:28 AM

I read something about people raving about it at film festivals. They were saying it was a new horror masterpiece, like Halloween.

Serious, is it good? Or just head-f**k good?

(I got the term "head f**k" off of Empire's description of Akira. Long story.)

dudeman · February 12, 2005, 04:00:15 PM

I was waiting for this thing to come out in theaters but saw a good copy (thai import version) for only $6 off this one sitet, so I figured I'd get it, a lot cheaper. For soem reason, I knew exactly what was going to happen in the ending when I read reviews about how unpredictabel it was. I was saying to myself, "it better not be like what I think it's going to be" but then it was. So for me, it was predictable that it was going to try and be unpredictable in a predictable manner...uhh I think that made sense.

Good movie still though, top notch gore and atmosphere, not a single boring moment.

Haute Tension (2003) 10/10

Jack Corbett