High Tension (2003)
"Haute tension" (original title)

Two college friends, Marie and Alexa, encounter loads of trouble (and blood) while on vacation at Alexa's parents' country home when a mysterious killer invades their quiet getaway.

Director:

Alexandre Aja

Writers:

Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur

Stars:

Cécile De France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cécile De France	...	Marie
Maïwenn	...	Alexia
Philippe Nahon	...	Le tueur
Franck Khalfoun	...	Jimmy
Andrei Finti	...	Père Alex
Oana Pellea	...	Mère Alex
Marco Claudiu Pascu	...	Tom
Jean-Claude de Goros	...	Capitaine Gendarmerie
Bogdan Uritescu	...	Gendarme
Gabriel Spahiu	...	Homme voiture

Storyline

Alexia travels with her friend Marie to spend a couple of days with her family in their farm in the country. They arrive late and they are welcomed by Alexia's father. Late in the night, a sadistic and sick killer breaks into the farmhouse, slaughters Alexia's family--including their dog--and kidnaps Alexia. Marie hides from the criminal and tries to help the hysterical and frightened Alexia, chase the maniac, and disclose his identity in the end.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | farmhouse | student | exam | bound and gagged | 

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Taglines:

Hearts will bleed.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic bloody killings, terror, sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Entertainment [United States]

Country:

France

Language:

French English Italian

Release Date:

10 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

High Tension

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Box Office

Budget:

€2,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,328 (Chile) (15 September 2006)

Gross:

$30,781 (Chile) (22 September 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alexandre Films, EuropaCorp

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 85 min (DVD) 84 min (re-cut) 89 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS (US version) Dolby Digital (US version) Dolby Digital EX (original version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The location used for the exteriors of Alexia's house was actually a dilapidated mill that the production cleaned up and dressed for the film.

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Goofs

The perspective of the video security camera in the gas station changes twice.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Marie: I won't let anyone come between us any more.

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Connections

Referenced in Camp Psych (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Runaway Girl"
by U. Roy
(U. Beckford / T. Robinson)
Excerpt from the album Dread in Babylon
1975 by EMI Virgin Music Ltd.
By permission from Editions EMI Virgin Music Publishing France
All rights reserved worldwide
(p) 1975 Virgin Records Ltd
By kind permission of EMI Music France / Label Virgin

User Reviews

Shameful Bastardization

This movie is actually an adaptation of the novel 'Intensity' by Dean Koontz. Koontz's novel, a masterpiece of horror was probably one of the best books I have ever read (and one of the few Koontz novels I actually liked). While I found both the book and the movie to be edge-of-the- seat captivating, the movie bastardizes Koontz's vision at the end, to the point where the story is laughable.

I am all for interpretive endings, and shocking twists, but this ending was so ridiculous and impossible (in terms of continuity) that it ruins the entire movie.

As in the early works of Stephen King, its simply another case of the movie industry taking a great story and completely destroying it's credibility.

If you actually liked this movie, I highly recommend you read the book. You will be ten times more satisfied.