French horror import High Tension opens today and for about a hour the movie is one of the better horror flicks to come along in recent times. And then it ruins itself with one of the worst last acts in horror, no, movie history. It's a textbook example of how to retroactively destroy your film.
Still, director Alexandre Aja has a great style and when the movie works it works very well. After a little set-up the film is pretty much relentless suspense and horror, with some extreme gore and an appealing lead actress in Cecile de France. It will be very interesting to see Aja's English language debut, a remake of Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes.
Horror fans will have to check this one out (considering most of the crap they have to make do with even half a good movie is worth seeing) but people who hate scary movies can rest easily about passing on this one. They're not missing much.
(The uncut, international version of High Tension that I saw was slightly different from the R-rated, partially dubbed version Lions Gate is releasing in theaters today. Apparently slight adjustments were made to the storyline to justify the dubbing, otherwise it's the same narratively. The ludicrous and unforgivable last act remains.)
2 comments:
It is definitely a conflict of interest for us to be friends. I know you have your opionions and I'm all about first amendment rights but its people like you who spread bad word of mouth about Lions Gate movies which directly result in me getting a shitty raise this year. So Geoff, please don't make me say this again, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I don't even know why I check this stupid blog site anyway, all you do it pretend like you're still writing for Variety... opps did I say that outloud?
High Tension sucks and you know it. But I wouldn't blame you, you're not the Blockhead who picked it up.
Now if you want a raise make sure the company only releases good movies, not Ashlee Simpson vehicles. Earn your money, or quit your bitching.
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