Cecile de France in HIGH TENSION (2005)
© Lions Gate Films
Sneak Peek at HIGH TENSION
By: News EditorDate: Friday, April 29, 2005
Lions Gate Films was gracious and cool enough to invite me to an early screening of their psychological horror thriller HIGH TENSION.
This is not an official review by any means and I don't want to spoil the film for anyone else, but this is a fairly intense story with lots of blood -- not buckets, but quite a bit. It's a relentless film that really doesn't let up once it gets going; and it doesn't waste much time in getting started.
TENSION stars Cecile de France, Maiwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon, Frank Khalfoun, and Andrei Finti. The performances are solid throughout, though most of the movie rests on the shoulders of its lead, Cecile de France. She covers a wide range of emotions and feelings during the entire film. And she seemed more than physically up to the challenge as her role required fair amount of action and fighting.
The other real standout of course is Philippe Nahon, as the psychotic killer. He loves his straight razor and his liquor.
Director Alexandre Aja did a solid job of directing the film from not only the actor's performances but from also from the choice of shots, editing, pacing, etc. Aja kept the film tight and constantly moving. There was little time to catch your breath as you feel yourself caught up in the terror of it all.
Overall the film looks great. The filmmakers got terrific production value from the farmhouse setting and the surrounding countryside. The sound mix I heard was loud and intense so be prepared for an assault on the senses. It hits theaters on June 3rd.
Look for more on the film from Cinescape.
Below are links to the online version of a special clip they provided us after the screening:
http://lionsgate.arcostream.net/lionsgate/high_tension/ht_online_trailerv7c_1500Kbps.wmv http://lionsgate.arcostream.net/lionsgate/high_tension/ht_online_trailerv7c_700Kbps.wmv http://lionsgate.arcostream.net/lionsgate/high_tension/ht_online_trailerv7c_300Kbps.wmv http://lionsgate.arcostream.net/lionsgate/high_tension/ht_online_trailerv7c_150Kbps.wmv http://lionsgate.arcostream.net/lionsgate/high_tension/ht_online_trailerv7c_56Kbps.wmv
