High Tension


Starring: Cecile de France, Maiwenn, Philippe Nahon

2.5/4

This version being reviewed is Unrated, but under the circumstances I'm assuming that it is the original NC-17 cut.  For the record, it was rated NC-17 for Strong Graphic Violence

“High Tension” is the most depraved horror movie I have ever seen.  This is an EXTREMELY violent movie, so much so that it makes “Saw” look like Sesame Street.  This is a merciless and brutal film that revels in its depravity to the point where it might be aiming to excite people who get off on violence.

Marie (de France) and Alex (Maiwenn) are two friends who are driving to Alex’s parents house for some R&R and study time.  That night, a serial killer (Philippe Nahon) enters the house, slaughtering Alex’s family and kidnapping Alex.  Marie has to find a way to save Alex before she too is murdered.

The film is scary, I’ll admit that.  But it is so violent and so gory that it may make even the most hardened horror fans feel unclean.  Quite frankly, the level of violence makes this film cross the line over into sadism.

The acting is adequate for the film’s purposes.  Cecile de France can look alternately tough and scared, and Maiwenn can let out a great scream.  But Philippe Nahon fails to really chill as the Michael Myers wannabe.  He is filmed in the same slow moving way, and he doesn’t speak until halfway through the movie.  It doesn’t really work, however.

Alexandre Aja’s direction is effective, but no one is going to confuse him with John Carpenter or Wes Craven.  The film isn’t as scary as it could have been, and the tension in the second half is ruined by the use of some lighthearted music.  While the latter decision makes for an interesting contrast, it dilutes the scares.

The initial cut was granted an NC-17 rating, and it’s impossible to argue with that.  This film is explicitly violent, almost too violent for its own good.  We get sucked out of the moment because we are turned off by the level of violence on screen.

I was going to give this a tentative recommendation had it not been for the ending twist.  It’s a cliché and it makes no sense considering what came before it, and Aja makes no attempt to make it seem credible after it happens.

I can’t in good conscience recommend “High Tension” to all but the most hardcore horror fans.  The level of tension doesn’t make up for the disconcerting level of violence in the film, or the horrible ending.

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