June 03, 2005 - For the horror savvy, many may have already checked out an import version of this film under its French title, Haute Tension, more than a year ago. If you are one of those, do others a favor not to spoil the fun surprise. Also, if you are a curious party, be careful not to read too much on this one, because even magazine summer movie previews have done all they can to give away Tension's key twist.

Cecile De France stars as Marie, a college student on vacation with her friend Alex (Maiwenn Le Besco) to visit Alex's family at their secluded country home. On the first night of their visit, all hell breaks loose. While listening to music and, well, enjoying herself upstairs, Marie is startled by some loud noises downstairs. A strange man that looks like your average truck driver or gas attendant bursts into the house and attacks Alex's mother and father. He brutally (and I mean brutally) murders them and takes Alex hostage in his truck. Marie hides and manages to elude the killer, who doesn't know she's in the house. Marie sneaks onto the truck before the killer leaves with Alex and tries to rescue her friend.

Bloody, brutal and far from subtle in its storytelling, High Tension is an amalgam of the work of Italian Horror maestros such as Dario Argento and Mario Bava. Director Alexandre Aja also inserts some heavy doses of modern horror influences including Jeepers Creepers, Texas Chainsaw and countless '80s slasher flicks. Yes, there is even a gratuitous nude shot and lesbian undertones.

Tension is a product of its influences more than just sheer imitation. Aja quietly and carefully pulls apart his story for the big reveal, and even if you see it coming, the ride is an entertaining one. Some may feel that Aja's graphic blood-splattering is overdone (keep in mind that this is edited from the import release) but the atrocity of the murders does work to create a more frightening atmosphere. You've got to admit, a killer that decapitates his victims is scarier than one that just shoots them. The killer is a little too Jeepers Creepers, but depending on your explanation for the final reveal, there are certainly theories viewers can deduce from this.

	-Lions Gate Films Le Besco (left) and De France (right)

The American release is dubbed by De France, who has most of the dialogue anyway. While I'm not generally a fan of dubbing, the speech in Tension is sparse as it is, so it doesn't really distract. This is the way Argento did classics like Suspiria, and it really doesn't take away from the finished product.

Cecile De France is already becoming a star attraction in France, performing the honorable duties as Mistress of Ceremonies during the recent Cannes Film Fest. This will be her intro for American audiences, and I'm sure horror geeks will soon have pin-ups of the sexy French starlet pinned to their walls next to Heather Langenkamp and Jamie Lee Curtis. De France is quite good as Marie. She's tough and adventurous, but she's also got a vulnerability you feel through her consistently trying and tense moments. For a horror film, Tension forces De France through a pretty broad range of emotions. She hits all the right notes.

High Tension isn't as much a scary film as it is a thrilling one. Aja gets the story out of the way quickly and, for those that complain about horror movies taking too long to get to the blood, they certainly won't be disappointed here. The first red splatter is less than 20 minutes in. Aja takes the strongest elements from countless influences and weaves them together as needed. While this is a slightly derivative tactic, it never feels weighted in unoriginality and Aja manages to throw in surprises pretty regularly. The film's greatest strength is intensity. After the quick start, Aja almost never lets up to give audiences a breather. If you've kept up with my reviews in the past year, you know my disdain for the recent horror trend. I can't say too much about this film because full discussion would require revealing too much. What I can say is that Tension is a bright spot in desolate times and fans of the genre are in for a treat.

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