High Tension – Blu-ray Review

The Film:

Even years after the film’s theatrical release in 2005 for USA, all people talk about is that damn ending. No matter what anyone says about the film, the ending looms over any and all discussion. Haute Tension (or here as it is known in the States, High Tension) is a lean, mean…scratch that, a lean and brutal survivalist horror film, that not only gave birth to a violent new French Wave of horror films that has climaxed with Martyrs, but also gave horror fans Alexandre Aja. But this was when he was good. After mifires like Mirrors and Piranha 3D, it’s great revisiting Aja here, when his voice has fresh and new, yet raw.

The two female leads while vacationing, have all plans violently interrupted when a stranger comes killing. It’s a simple plot, making the characters go from point A to point B and survive the ordeal, yet there’s something quite exquisite about the gruesome acts of murder and survival in High Tension. Much more than just out running the killer, are leads must out-brutalize him to live another day, and it’s this where on a primitive scope, piles on the do onto others Old Testament mentality, that has kept the film from being just another flash-in-the-pan debut. Keeping in with the simplicity of High Tension, the film is brilliant, but when the ending happens, it’s a grave misfire, since the proceeding events do not lead up to what transpires in the ending. Explain the killer receiving oral sex after you see the ending. It’s overcooked, and while after a few too many viewings, I’ve lightened up on it, I don’t blame anyone who feels as if the ending cannibalizes the film itself.

Prior to this twist, Aja has crafted a uniquely gruesome thriller, with a great and off-putting sound design, great gore FX from Lucio Fulci’s right hand man Giannetto De Rossi, and a big concrete saw used in the best – or worst- way imaginable. Too bad the film didn’t just keep with it’s simple survival mentality and had to out-think itself with a twist ending, that literally makes no sense. Aja would perfect High Tension‘s formula in his remake of Hill Have Eyes.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: Lionsgate Films has given this gritty film a solid HD presentation. The picture has great detail, fine dimensionality, and colors are natural. It’s not as superb as modern films, as it jut doesn’t sparkle like it should, but everything, when considered, offers a solid, maybe borderline great HD picture. The rowdy DTS 7.1 track is everything you’d expect. Loud, aggressive, clear, busy, and it’s perhaps all too pushy, but no one will ever complain about the sound being what it is. LGF has given horror fans a great HD presentation.

All of the extras are off of their prior DVD edition of High Tension, so don’t expect anything new.

Fans can expect the original French language Director’s Cut, the English dubbed version, and a Commentary with Aja and his screenwriting partner Gregory Levasseur, who offer up a solid track, despite their thick French accents. There’s also another Commentary for Select Scenes with Aja and actress Cecile De France that runs about 45 minutes if run together, and is equally as good.

Haute Horror is the making-of feature that fans should enjoy with everyone talking about the grueling production and that damn twist for about 24 minutes. Building Tension is a neat comparative piece on how editing can create suspense. Finally, besides Trailers, we get a nice – although even so quick – chat with FX master Rossi. Good stuff.

Conclusion: Great film, minus the ending, and a solid catalog Blu-ray release from LGF.

**Note: This title is a Best Buy exclusive and will be until October 5th**

The Film: Rating:

The Blu-ray: Rating: