Best friends Marie and Alexia decide to spend a quiet weekend at Alexia's parents' secluded farmhouse. But on the night of their arrival, the girls' idyllic getaway turns into an endless night of horror.
A young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.
Lucas and Clementine live peacefully in their isolated country house, but one night they wake up to strange noise... they're not alone... and a group of hooded assailants begin to terrorize them throughout the night.
Desperate to repay his debt to his ex-wife, an ex-con plots a heist at his new employer's country home, unaware that a second criminal has also targeted the property, and rigged it with a series of deadly traps.
After kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging to the parents of one of the victims: a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics.
Director:
Dennis Iliadis
Stars:
Garret Dillahunt,
Monica Potter,
Tony Goldwyn
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.Written by
Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When the car driver is attacked near the end, Alex is showered in blood, including her face and teeth. In the next scenes, her teeth are perfectly white and the blood has dried very quickly. See more »
Quotes
Le tueur:
[in French; subtitled]
Hey, Jimmy. How are you?
Jimmy:
[in French]
Good.
Le tueur:
On your own tonight?
Jimmy:
Yeah, weekends are slow.
Le tueur:
So they left you to mind the store?
Jimmy:
I guess.
Le tueur:
This the ideal place to bring girls. Don't tell me it's never happened.
Jimmy:
If I did, my boss would fire me.
Le tueur:
[chuckles]
Seriously. The old ladies that drive through. Don't tell me they never asked for your services. Ain't that right, Jimmy?
Jimmy:
[getting nervous]
Yeah, I guess.
See more »
Alternate Versions
The South Korean theatrical re-release and DVD release has cuts totaling under a minute to all the murders. Also a brief shot of a severed hand next to a phone is missing. These cuts were finally restored for the special edition DVD in 2005. See more »
A toutes les filles
(Lyrics: Félix Gray - Composer: Didier Barbelivien)
(p) 1990 Yearling Productions
(c) Zone Music
By kind permission of Félix Gray et Didier Barbelivien See more »
As a horror film fan, I have wanted to see "High Tension" for a while, ever since I saw the delectably violent trailer and clips. It does not disappoint in the gory violence department, but I found it to be too short, with an abrupt ending. Still, the film is a haunting exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche; a portrait that doubles, or maybe masquerades, as a slasher.
Cécile De France is good in the role of Marie, showing grit, nerve and, dare I say, tension when the role calls for it. Maïwenn Le Besco is also good as Alex, although her role does not demand much from her, except for a few scenes of considerable emotional range.
Two of the best aspects of the film are its cinematography and music. Cinematographer Maxime Alexandre paints the film in bluish, metallic, detached hues, that contribute to the effects of truly unapologetic on-screen violence. Composer François Eudes' score is an audio picture of disturbed peace and chaos brewing in the idyll of normalcy. Had it not been for these two elements, the film would not have been half as effective.
"High Tension" is not a must-see film by any means, but it is a must for art-house and horror film fans.
7/10
23 of 41 people found this review helpful.
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As a horror film fan, I have wanted to see "High Tension" for a while, ever since I saw the delectably violent trailer and clips. It does not disappoint in the gory violence department, but I found it to be too short, with an abrupt ending. Still, the film is a haunting exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche; a portrait that doubles, or maybe masquerades, as a slasher.
Cécile De France is good in the role of Marie, showing grit, nerve and, dare I say, tension when the role calls for it. Maïwenn Le Besco is also good as Alex, although her role does not demand much from her, except for a few scenes of considerable emotional range.
Two of the best aspects of the film are its cinematography and music. Cinematographer Maxime Alexandre paints the film in bluish, metallic, detached hues, that contribute to the effects of truly unapologetic on-screen violence. Composer François Eudes' score is an audio picture of disturbed peace and chaos brewing in the idyll of normalcy. Had it not been for these two elements, the film would not have been half as effective.
"High Tension" is not a must-see film by any means, but it is a must for art-house and horror film fans.
7/10