Haute Tension, aka Switchblade Romance

[Downhome 0]

 

 

 

I was going over various horror movie sites a few months ago, and over at Bloody-Disgusting I found a review for a French film, Haute Tension (English title, Switchblade Romance). After weeks and months of trying to find some way to see it, I finally found it for download a few days ago, and this evening I finally got around to watching it. It took me a while to find the subtitles anywhere, but I finally did.

 

And I'm very glad that I did.

 

The film is just A grade quality all the way through. The performances of the two girls being stalked Cécile De France (Marie) and Maïwenn Le Besco (Alex) are great, while Cécile does an especially good job. Then we have the protagonist, Philippe Nahon (Le tueur), who does just perfect in the role of the insane madman. This character is smart, creative, and you will hate his guts.

 

While watching Tension, I had the same feeling that I get when watching films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the such. It's more than just a cheap teen slasher flick. It's smart and frightening. The level of tension throughout the film starts with the very first frame, and it stays high throughout the entire film. Something like that is rare in horror these days, so that is yet another reason I loved this one.

 

The score fits perfectly in this film, and as the guy over at Bloody-Disgusting said, "The film also contains the most brilliant score I've heard in a long time. It is in the tradition of the 70's horror classics with a touch of Goblin from Argento's work.", I agree with every word of that.

 

Then we have the director. This horror flick is Alexandre Aja's first dive into the genre, but he has a film here that makes it feel like the guy who directed it had been working on this type of film for years. He did a supurb job, and I can't wait for his next horror film, if he decides to continue down this same road.

 

In my opinion, this Tension is better than any horror film released in the US in the past few years. If you haven't seen this one yet, then go find it. Go download it, or do whatever you need to do to check this one out. I give it a 9/10 rating, it really is that good.

 

If any of you have already checked this one out, what did you think?

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[NoCalMike 0]

burn it and send me a copy in the mail.

[BlackFlagg 0]

Have heard about it, need to check it out

[Downhome 0]

I just read that the director of this film, Alexandre Aja, is going to direct the upcoming The Hills Have Eyes remake. I knew his name sounded familier. I just got a whole hell of a lot more excited for this reamake, heh.

 

I also just read that Lions Gate viewed this film at a screening, and they picked it up for release. Right now, it looks like it will be coming sometime this year, and it has been branded with the NC-17 rating.

 

I'm going to watch a few more horror films in the next few days, and I'll let you know what I think of them. Horror, Undead, Dead End, Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed, and a few others.

[Guest El Satanico]

I just read that the director of this film, Alexandre Aja, is going to direct the upcoming The Hills Have Eyes remake.

 

it has been branded with the NC-17 rating.

I guess that means there's strong sexual content in it. Sexual content is the only thing I could see gaining a movie the dreaded NC-17.

 

 

This is why I'm looking forward to the Hills Have Eyes remake.

[Downhome 0]

There isn't really any sexual content in it at all. I mean, a couple of things here and there but nothing that would give it such a strong rating. There isn't even any nudity in the film, aside from a single topless gal taking a shower for a few seconds, and the view of even that was far away.

 

While I don't think it needs such a strong rating, I'd say it's been given a NC-17 over the actual violence. The effects in the movie are highly realistic, it's not over the top or anything like that. The deaths actually look brutal.

 

I'd list a few examples, but I don't want to spoil anything, heh.

[Guest El Satanico]

I'm not calling you a liar, but I'll be somewhat surprised if it's actually rated NC-17 just because of violence at the time of release. That is if it even gets a wide release.

[Downhome 0]

I'm not calling you a liar, but I'll be somewhat surprised if it's actually rated NC-17 just because of violence at the time of release. That is if it even gets a wide release.

That is the only thing that would even excuse such a rating. I'm being completely serious when I say that the movie is just about totally absent of all sexual acts. I'll even list the two in the film.

 

This isn't really a spoiler, but if you want to be totally surprised by every scene, I'll give a WARNING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) There is one scene where the main gal in the film is in bed with her hand in her pants listening to music, slightly moaning.

 

2) Near the begining of the film, the psycho is sitting in his rusted truck. You see it moving a bit over and over, and you hear him go "ahhhhhhhh oooooooo" a few times. You don't see anything at all, other than seeing the truck move a bit and a faint impression of the guy with his head leaning backwards. This lasts for just a few seconds, and when it's over he rolls his window down holds a severed head, and drops it. Obviously implying that he gave himself a BJ with the head. Again, it didn't even show anything.

[Guest El Satanico]

Oh I don't at all doubt your claims of pure violence and little sexual content.

[Downhome 0]

I'm trying to think of another film to compare the deaths and everything to, but I'm drawing a blank right now.

[Downhome 0]

Here is the trailer for it. Everyone, check it out, and let me know what you think of this at least.

 

http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2004/DEF...ailer-page.html

[Placebo Effect 0]

For those of you in the Philadelphia area, this movie will be screening (along with King of the Ants, The Last Horror Movie, Toolbox Murders, and several other horror titles) at the Philadelphia Film Festival in the middle of April.

 

I'll definitely be there, as I'm now pretty hyped for this.

[Toshiaki Koala 0]

I'm not calling you a liar, but I'll be somewhat surprised if it's actually rated NC-17 just because of violence at the time of release. That is if it even gets a wide release.

From the MPAA's official site:

 

High Tension (2004)

Rated NC-17 for strong graphic violence.

[Downhome 0]

Heh, thanks!

[Insane Bump Machine 0]

watched it yesterday and loved it. The TCM comparison is dead on, some of the scenes can even be seen as a hommage to the classic.

 

Edit:

Downhome, if you're looking for subtitles check out http://www.extratitles.to (and http://subs.2ya.com for asian flicks).

[Downhome 0]

I'm glad that you loved it also. I found the subtitles, I watched them with the subs, but thanks anyway.

[Guest OctoberBlood]

You can get it on ebay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...84&category=617

[Downhome 0]

That's just a DVDR I imagine, there is no such thing as a region 1 DVD of this. There is one in Italy that is 100% uncensored, but it doesn't have English subtitles, then another in Japan with subtitles...but it's censored.

 

This film will be coming out in the USA sometime this year, as mentioned before, and also in the auction.

 

But yeah, you can buy it that someone burned and watch it.

[Downhome 0]

The international trailer is now online.

 

http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4515