For most viewers, the success of High Tension will hinge upon the third act’s bold reveal. For me, the frustration of that reveal nearly erases any of the movie’s shallow merits.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 14, 2024

It completely unsettles the viewer like anything else to come out of the New French Extremity. The only difference is High Tension achieves its goal in the most unexpected way.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 21, 2023

A very effective French horror film that takes a simplistic premise and milks it for every ounce of suspense possible.

| Original Score: B | Nov 19, 2019

The movie isn't scary, suspenseful, thought-provoking or -- heck -- even remotely entertaining.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Jul 17, 2019

High Tension is all kinds of wrong-narratively, corporeally, politically. But it also knows what it's doing-it's an arterial spray of expression, a celluloid dare to take it to the next level.

| Jan 29, 2019

Its conclusion can be viewed as a major disappointment.

| Original Score: C+ | Nov 4, 2015

Gory European gothic horror doesn't come any grittier and weirder than it does when a couple of would-be lesbian college girlfriends retreat to a weekend at the secluded farmhouse of one of their parents to study for their final exams.

| Original Score: B+ | Jul 2, 2009

Disturbing, demented, gory and one of the best horror films I've seen in a while...

| Apr 29, 2009

The last three fourths of this film are basically like the last five minutes of Halloween -- total fear and total suspense.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jun 18, 2008

"Haute Tension" is like a French art-house essay on slasher-movie cliches, and as such is good nasty fun.

| Original Score: B | Sep 17, 2007

A cinematically sound but sub-par horror flick readied for the American mass market by the addition of English credits and some truly atrocious dubbing.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jul 27, 2007

| Original Score: 1/4 | Jul 14, 2007

If you're going to make a horror film, I'd recommend ensuring that a) it makes some logical sense, and b) it ain't really %#&* boring.

| Original Score: F | Jun 21, 2007

In its best moments, the film is reminiscent of such seminal slasher pictures as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes.

| Mar 1, 2007

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 30, 2006

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 12, 2006

It's a movie that needs to be seen by all horror fans because it serves as a reminder of just how good a "slasher film" can be.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 30, 2006

Not only is it an assault on the senses, the film is so narcissistically nihilistic the only ones sure to get a kick out of it are members of the Manson Family fan club.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Dec 13, 2005

Haute bloodbath.

| Original Score: B- | Nov 4, 2005

The French slasher High Tension definitely lives up to the promise of its title.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 12, 2005