High Tension: Unrated DVD Review:

For a while before the release of High Tension in the United States, there were rumors about the film being rated NC-17. The extreme violence in the graphic horror film was enough to earn it an NC-17 rating many times, but finally it was cut down enough to earn an R rating. The main reason that the filmmakers had few issues with cutting the film down enough to earn this rating is because of the advent of DVD and the many options it supplies. Films like this are given the opportunity to be seen as the director pleases, regardless of what the rating was in theaters. In all honesty, it hardly makes much difference. The most that is shaved off is a few seconds here and there, and in the long run it doesn’t change the good and the bad of High Tension, a creative yet simple film with a disappointing ending.

High Tension begins like so many other horror films; in the middle of nowhere. Marie and Alexia are best friends in college, and in order to prepare for the upcoming exams they decide to spend the weekend at Alexia’s parent’s farmhouse. When a stranger knocks on the door in the middle of the night, nobody’s life will be the same, most because it will end very quickly. Everything that follows is a simple cat and mouse chase as Marie and Alexia try to survive. There is a surprise ending which has left many audience members upset, but the effectiveness of the film is only partly destroyed.

This film is so disturbingly violent that it almost is no longer enjoyable. At the same time many fans will love it because of the gruesome elements. The DVD is no different, not only with an unrated version, but also filled with special features that dwell on all of the violence. The menu is even intense and somewhat stressful with a blood-splattered screen and chainsaw sounds.

The special features include a number of exciting features, most of which involving Alexandre Aja and Gregory Levasseur, who wrote the film together. There is a quick introduction by them, but it doesn’t have anything consequential. Haute Horror: Making of High Tension, is filled with interviews by cast and crew, mainly with the two writers explaining all of the elements. Casting is discussed along with the certain crew members that helped to make the film so memorable. There are some great sequences in the making of featurette, but most of it seems to be made after the film was completed. It was more of a collection of stories from the set. The featurette is about twenty minutes long.

Building Tension is a quick featurette about all of the elements used to create more suspense, such as sound and editing. It is just under ten minutes long. There is also a featurette with Giannetto De Rossi about the special effects in this gruesome and gory film. De Rossi is a famous special effects make-up artist and he is also the main reason that many scenes are so disturbing. There are select scenes with commentary by Alexandre Aja and Cecile De France and trailers also.



Ryan Izay