The superb, bright, and almost over saturated colors transfer over to the DVD format with few issues. The blood is as red as possible while avoiding compression issues. Film grain is occasionally ugly, though it works to the film's benefit. Superb black levels usually cover up any problems. (****)
Audio is available in either English or original French. Both sound the same, aside from the obvious dubbing. There's not much of anything here in the stereo or surround channels, though the bass adds that extra blast when needed (like when someone is being beaten to death by a barbed wire 2x4). It's rarely needed to any great effect, so the lack of any real audio punch is negligible. (***)
Extras can't be considered packed, but there is a nice selection. After the useless intro from the film's director and writer, you can move onto the highlight of the disc Haute Horror: The Making of High Tension. This 23-minute piece shows everything, and the crew discusses the benefits (and sometimes not) of low budget filming. Some of their stories are funny while showing their passion and good luck in some shots, in addition to typical casting and script discussions.
Building Tension runs like a checklist, showing how to properly pull an audience in and keep them involved. Various camera styles and color choices are used to show this in around eight minutes.
Gianetto De Rossi, the film's makeup artist, gets his own self-titled piece. His ways of working around a small budget, care for accuracy, and classic style are all shown, including how to properly slit someone's throat without actually doing it. The disc finishes of with a selected scene commentary by, again, the writer and director, and a ton of trailers. (****)
Truthfully, High Tension isn't original or a genre changer. It's done well, and for a rare French film to gain full exposure over here in the US, it had to be. You'll never forget the time you saw someone get their head sliced off by a dresser. Ever.
Article comments
1 - Aaron Fleming
Yeah, pretty cool death scenes, but in the end it's just another schlocky slasher film. And that end is now nothing more than a bland cliche.
2 - Steve C.
As much as I dislike the ending - and it does ruin the film - I will give Aja credit: He saves the best murder scene until after the twist. (CHUNKY!)
3 - Jessa
I saw this movie a while ago and I have to agree. The killing of the family at the house was brilliant. It was very well done. But towards the end, it lagged and got boring. It had a lot of potential but it's a shame. I think it would have been great if the entire movie was filmed in or around that house. Maybe then it could have continued to make the audience sit on the edge of their seats. Who knows? Good review!
4 - Nephryel
I have to say I disagree with you all. The ending was expected if you pay enough attention to details. I'm afraid after the first two scenes it was pretty obvious where the movie would go, especially after the dream sequence in the car in the first 10 minutes.
Cliche, perhaps, but it was well done, and gave plenty of warning of what was coming at the end. It was just a matter of how they played it off and to just what level of 'crazy' they were going to crank it up to.
I, personally, found it very well executed and well worth the watch. Even down to the very last seconds of it that lead you full circle back to the beginning of the movie, neatly tying it up as a good plot should.
5 - Jordan
what did the twist mean? i didnt get it.