Today’s 31 Days of Horror is focusing on another little known French film titled High Tension (Haute Tension (released in the UK as Switchblade Romance)). Directed by Alexandre Aja, High Tension stars Cécile De France in the leading role as Marie and Maïwenn as Alexia.
The movie was released in several formats based on ratings when it was first introduced in the US however the original uncut version is available on DVD including a dubbed version for those that do not like subtitles. The uncut version shows more gore however other than one scene where it seems a bit over the top, the additional blood and gore doesn’t detract from the overall tension (for lack of a better word) the film creates.
The movie begins with a shot of a woman in a hospital gown covered with injuries and muttering to herself. It then flashes to a woman covered in blood as she flags down a car for help. Cut to Marie and Alexia in a car as Marie wakes up and tells Alexia of her dream. They are on their way to Alexia’s parent’s house on a break from school to study and spend the weekend. Alexia’s parents live in a remote location deep within France isolated from the main road. After everyone is settled in for the evening, the family goes to sleep while Marie is still awake in the attic room listening to music. It isn’t long before they receive a knock on the door by a deranged psychopath intent on murdering them all.
The events unfold rapidly from here and, though they are similar to the novel Intensity by Dean Koontz, the performance by Cécile De France makes even the most hard core critic stop and take notice. If you haven’t seen this film I do recommend it though it isn’t for those who are squeamish. It is packed with blood, gore, violence and an almost unstoppable freight train of adrenaline.
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