Yes, if you watch the film thinking that marie is in fact standing in for the killer in every scene he appears to the audience, that every scene with the killer happened just like that, except that marie was the killer, the film has some serious plot holes that arent ever addressed and the director has cheated us. A high tension electricity cable is one which is able to carry a very powerful current. Violent, gory, and featuring a sequence of gratuitous lesbian masturbation, high tension was on track to become one of the great horror films of our time. High tension was picked up by independent distributor lions gate entertainment following a successful screening at the midnight madness section of the 2003 toronto international film festival. I did feel some tension in parts and the story moves along quite well with some of the most blood curdling gory special effects i have ever seen in a movie. Im fairly certain the killer was quint the horror digest.
The french title translates both to high tension and high voltage. Movie talk just watched high tension help im confused warning spoilers was the killer the old guy or the blonde. The 2003 french horror hit high tension is remembered by many for its surprising twist ending, but that twist doesnt stand up to scrutiny. Or at least thats what high tension first appears to be about. Ending spoiler for high tension 2003, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. The film centers on two teen girls who settle in for a relaxing weekend at a country farmhouse, unaware that a violent intruder is speeding.
However, lionsgate reedited the film and redubbed the. Instead, she represses her sexuality, which manifests as. For the majority of its runtime, high tension also known as haute tension or switchblade romance really manages to live up to its name, and is widely considered by many as one of the most notable examples of the new french extremity movement. The main problem with high tension is the distinct lack of tension. Hightension definition and meaning collins english dictionary. A range of risk factors may increase the chances of a person developing. After she kills the killer, the police look at the gas station tape and you see that marie actually killed the clerk that is your first clue that marie is crazy. Best friends marie and alexia decide to spend a quiet weekend at alexias parents secluded farmhouse. I need some help understanding high tension spoilers, duh. Jul 22, 2019 hypertension or high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and death and is a major global health concern.
But alas, high tension doesnt have a demon, ghost or anything else other than a derranged killer, who has no apparent reason for slicing and dicing women. The ending completely falls apart and has so much illogic that it renders the entire movie as suspect as to what actually happened. High tension switchblade romance 2005 rotten tomatoes. High tension is a 1936 american comedydrama film directed by allan dwan and starring brian donlevy, glenda farrell, and norman foster. Gross movie scenes and the stories behind them screenrant. Generally, terrible twists like this are reserved for awful movies attempting to add artificial depth or shock value at the last minute as if that would excuse it from being an uninspired mess. High tension was released in france on 18 june 2003 where it was distributed by europacorp. Actually come to think of it, i dont think ive told anyone not even you god what happened on that night so long ago when i put in the high tension dvd for the first time.
Aug 24, 2018 in alexandre ajas 2005 film high tension, the protagonist marie has feelings for her best friend, alex, but wont speak of them. A hightension electricity cable is one which is able to carry a very powerful current. If you expect and want to see a peculiarly oldfashioned, lowbudget ugliness, this selfserious movie is unsurprising but also quite aware of its ancestry. They settled on high tension as it very clearly summed up the intended feel of the film. After screening at the festival, the film was purchased by lionsgate films for north american distribution. And in my opinion, it wouldve gone on to accomplish much more if only the ending wasnt such a big. My opinion is that high tension is great as long as you dont think about it too much. Alexandre aja directorcowriter, gregory levasseur cowriterart director 1. Featuring one of the most controversial endings i have ever discussed, high tension is a. Well it only took me 3 yearsbut i finally watched high tension the whole way.
Hightension definition and meaning collins english. Mar 24, 2020 high tension s ending twist isnt as good as you remember. Gruesome and knowingly derivative, high tension delivers what it promises. High tension switchblade romance critics consensus there is indeed a good amount of tension in this french slasher, but the dubbing is bad and the end twist unbelievable. I put this one way down on the list because its so damn controversial at least among horror nerds, but i really dig it anyway. The worst part is, the movie was fantastic up until that point. Everything you need to know about high tension movie 2005. The slasher genre experienced a golden age from the late 70s to early 80s, but the 21st century has already added a number of mustsee films to the list. High tension as was previously mentioned, the experiences william wister haines gained when working as a catenary lineman on the pennsylvania railroad electrification project were the basis for the book high tension. Mr coveralls and his truck did exist, but he wasnt the killer. Obviously when starting out in my horror movie watching career. Feb 09, 2004 it remains to be seen whether haute tension is a decent genre film with a copout twist or if its a sublime horror movie that manages to fool even its own audience.
Alexandre ajas high tension is a slasher film about a madman prowling a rural area of france, chopping, slicing and crunching his way. I could follow the movie well until the weird twist in the end where we are shown that marie and the killer is the same person in maries body. Gregory levasseur at an event for high tension 2003 alexandre aja and gregory. Switchblade romance was shown at the 2003 toronto film festival as. If you like high tension you are looking for scary, suspenseful and psychological movies about with insanity, home invasion, massacre, slasher, gory, survival and kidnapping themes of horror genre shot in france or italy. The camera used during the carattack scene got so much fake blood on it during shooting that when it was being used on another film later on fake blood oozed. Oct 14, 2007 by the way, its kind of a messed up movie. So if you ignore the fact that none of it really makes sense, just enjoy the gore and action. High tension feels like someones clever short story turned into a feature length mess of a movie.
As for the best on the basis of a very gory psychoslasher it works quite well. As anyone whos seen the film can attest, the story ends with a shocking twist that. High tension gives us the best and worst in movie making. Ultimately, high tension is for the real horror fans. Alexandre ajas high tension is a slasher film about a madman prowling a rural area of france, chopping, slicing and crunching his way through, lets see, a body count of five or six people, including a small child that the film does not neglect to show crumpled and dead in a cornfield.
High tensions ending twist isnt as good as you remember. And my issue might be only with the unrated version. Proper usage and audio pronunciation plus ipa phonetic transcription of the word high tension. I thought the ending was a bit incoherent as the movie couldnt support the idea of marie having a second, murderous personality. One of the characters of the book is the general foreman called the duke. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Im fairly certain the killer was quint well it only took me 3 yearsbut i finally watched high tension the whole way through. But on the night of their arrival, the girls idyllic getaway turns into an endless night of horror. Although the ending left me dry, there is no denying that haute tension is one. The film was shown at the 2003 toronto international film festival during the midnight madness section. Retitled high tension, the rrated version is missing one minute of.
Which song plays during the car chase and ending scenes. The best slasher movies of the 21st century so far collider. High tension takes you on a bloody and brutal ride as a girl fights to save the life of her best friend. Oct 20, 2010 most of what you see during the movie with marie running from the killer is all in maries demented mind. In high hopes of spending a peaceful weekend, the french college students and best friends, marie and alexia, head to alexias parents secluded cottage to study, unbeknownst to them that a deranged and utterly sadistic killer is prowling the area, slashing innocent victims for his perverse pleasure. Only time will tell if high tension is bound for horrorclassic status, but i consider myself a massive fan of this material, and i think the flicks a nearmasterpiece. Alexandre ajas gruesome 2003 french horror movie high tension or haute tension is full of gory goodies, and the scene where a trapped driver is eviscerated by a concrete saw while a woman in the backseat is bathed in his blood is unforgettably repulsive. They considered other english titles including switchblade romance, but it was maybe too campy. The ones who acknowledge the flick as a loving homage to the golden days of hooper and craven, carpenter, fulci, and argento. Maybe its because hes a disgusting fat pig who cant get a real woman. It was released by 20th century fox on july 17, 1936.