the Mind’s Chew Toy

After Saw (2004) came out, the people at Lions Gate Films realized they had discovered a mostly untapped niche - smart horror films. Not your typical slasher flicks, like their previous House of 1000 Corpses, but something that invovles the viewer’s mind as well as their stomach. This trend continued with Undead (2005) - but then they hit a snag, going back to Rob Zombie for his second feature, The Devil’s Rejects. Next up on LGF’s horror slate: High Tension. Would this film showcase LGF’s knack for picking smart horror films, or did they just get lucky with Saw (2004) and Undead (2005)?

The fact that High Tension is dubbed was never mentioned in any of the previews - probably to widen it’s audience. Some diehards can’t stand watching dubbed films, and wouldn’t even think about going to see one - no matter how interesting it looked. For the rest of us, the dubbing is something annoying at first, but once the film begins in earnest, it’s easily forgotten - especially since the cameras tend to shy away from watching the actors’ mouths as they speak.

The cast of High Tension was full of relative unknowns. Seeing no familiar faces on-screen actually helps the viewer in this instance, as no famous name will distract the viewer from the film at a critical moment. With the famous folks out of the way, the viewer is able to become much more involved in this storyline. But, that’s only because the main actors do a decent enough job of acting to make their roles seem believable - especially the main character, played by Cecile De France. She does a great job of pulling the audience into the action with her so when she is hiding fearfully from the bad man (which she does a great deal), the viewer is right there with her and their pulse quickens right along with hers.

When High Tension starts to get bloody, viewers will be eerily reminded of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. With the choppy, gritty, almost homemade look to the film, it will instantly put the viewer in mind of that classic horror film. Despite being shot on a low budget, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre still ranks right up there for producing some of the most frightening scenes ever seen in film - and they did it by pulling the audience deep into the movie, to identify so well with the actors until it seems as if the bad guy is chasing after the viewer, not the actor. High Tension seems to be almost a modern-day homage to TCM, bringing in an old farmhouse, a madman, a family - even a chainsaw at one point. Like it’s predecessor, High Tension does a good job of pulling in the viewer, making the viewer squirm with tension as they wait to see if Marie will be able to get away - and then throws in a surprise ending that will leave the viewer dumbfounded.

Of course, in a film like this, special effects abound, and they have to be good to make the movie work - usually. High Tension seems to be the exception that proves the rule, as some of the scenes (especially near the beginning of the film) are ridiculously cheesy - not to mention edited badly (as someone is about to die, the scene pauses, then speeds up to flash through their death - not exactly high quality filmmaking, especially since it’s obviously done unintentionally). After the first couple of deaths, however, the blood and gore becomes more realistic - and more voluminous, literally coating the camera in blood at times. While the early effects aren’t quite up to what the average viewer is used to, but due to the high level of suspense even at that point in the film, it’s almost forgettable - at least until after the movie ends (one does get the fleeting thought after the first silly deaths, though, that Marie might be running for the rest of the film not to stay alive, but rather to avoid a cheesy death on-screen).

High Tension is the real next generation Texas Chainsaw Massacre, not that silly remake that came out a few years back. Sadly lacking in good special effects early on, High Tension is at it’s best when someone isn’t dying. This is where the film really grabs the viewer, and holds them unmercifully in limbo - waiting to see what will happen next. When that big boot doesn’t step out unexpectedly, the viewer breathes a sigh of relief right along with Marie.

Is it worth renting? If you’re a horror fan, you won’t want to miss it.