Hey folks, Harry here... and I'm really anxious to see HAUTE TENSION, I've heard good things about this film for quite some time now and it is great to see response like this regarding it. Here ya go...
HAUTE TENSION
Alexandre Aja’s HAUTE TENSION may not set out to redefine the psychological-thriller or horror genre, but who says it has to? Do we swill coca-cola in our mouths to appreciate the complexity of its taste? No, we drink it to quench our thirst. And HAUTE TENSION certainly quenches our thirst for good horror.
When Alex invites Marie to spend a quiet weekend at her parent’s country home, it would become a weekend that would forever change their lives. Soon after the entire house retires to sleep, a brutish mechanic, wearing a baseball cap and dirty overalls, barrels up to their front door in a rusty, beat-up truck. Startled by the loud ringing of the doorbell, Alex’s father answers the door only to be blinded by the trucks powerful high beams. What ensues after is a bloody massacre that ends with Marie closely following the old truck - determined to save Alex who is helplessly bound in the back.
Aja borrows abundantly from horror classics (namely Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre) but he keeps things fresh with Marie’s clever methods to elude her attacker. When the killer’s heavy footsteps slowly pounds its way up the steps to Marie’s bedroom, she doesn’t quickly hide under the bed or closet as we may expect. Instead, she quickly makes up her bed and wipes down the wet sink with a towel before seeking refuse. This proves effective as the killer slowly walks around her bedroom looking for traces of anyone’s presence. The performances are excellent. I STAND ALONE’s Phillippe Nahon is superb as the killer. His quiet demeanor and hulking figure make him a menacing antagonist. Cecile de France is magnetic as the heroine. She carries the film well with her beauty and athleticism. However, the star of the picture is none other than Francois Eudes’ score. Not since IRREVERSIBLE has there been a soundtrack that puts a strangle hold of your heart.
HAUTE TENSION has all the elements of a chilling horror movie. Its only sad note is its English title “SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE”. Why must Aja condescend the English viewing public with such a ridiculous B-movie title? (which may reveal more than we care to know before seeing the picture) Hopefully, Aja will come to his senses and release this film with its French title or at least its English translation “HIGH TENSION”. HAUTE TENSION is one of my favourite films so far at the Toronto International Film Festival. I’ll write back with my reviews of other Midnight Madness movies such as JU-ON: THE GRUDGE and Takashi Miike’s GOZU.
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