Haute tension (High Tension) (2003)

November 20, 2022 3:34 PM

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. [spoilers inside]

40% on Rotten Tomatoes; JustWatch listing

posted by johnofjack (8 comments total)

I thought this was 80% of a good film followed by 20% garbage. The only way I can make sense of it is to assume that they put together the film they wanted, had a test screening, then got an ultimatum from some studio head who had recently seen Adaptation and decided it was a problem that a throwaway joke in it had never been filmed.

'Cause that twist, that was stupid and impossible.

Also, yes, horror film needs more queer representation, but not like this.
posted by johnofjack at 3:35 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]

Ugh. The worst of the 'extreme horror' wave. Based on a plot twist made plain two minutes into the film.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 4:32 PM on November 20, 2022

I'm still angry at the plot twist. What in the name of M. Night Shyamalan was that bullshit? The movie only makes sense if it's entirely Marie's hallucination -- this isn't even a Fight Club thing where you can change one element and it works, it in no way makes logistical sense if Marie is the killer -- and the problem with that is, it's fucking stupid.

Up to that point, this is a pretty solid action thriller if you like things like that. It doesn't have any redeeming social value; it's just a rollercoaster. Without a stupid ending, I think it would be much more fondly remembered.

Apparently this is an unauthorized adaptation of a Dean Koontz novel, which I presume does not have the stupid ending; I have not read the book.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 5:26 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

I'm glad I am not the only one pissed at the twist. I enjoyed the film right up to the "reveal" and was like NOOOOOooooooooooo. No. It was a fun ride up until then. I believe the people who did this also did the reboot of the Hills Have Eyes.
posted by miss-lapin at 10:44 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]

Now Martyrs...that's how you do a plot twist.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 11:04 AM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]

The DVD cover when I rented it showed Marie holding that big rotary saw, and I rented the movie on the strength of that image.
I felt kind of cheated by the movie I got. That cover isn't quite a spoiler, but I was extremely disappointed in this thing.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:05 PM on November 21, 2022

Man, am I glad everyone here hated this for the same reason I did. Bad ending, bad! No snackies for you.
posted by fiercekitten at 10:31 PM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

I, uh, liked the plot twist. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by holborne at 4:01 PM on November 26, 2022