I dug “High Tension” … with a few qualifiers. Anyone who likes horror films and doesn’t live on Mars knows the story already (Girls/Country House/Killer). It a simple set-up that director Alexandre Aja milks for all it’s worth with some great pacing, suspense and buckets (and I mean BUCKETS) of blood. Cécile De France carries this film with some great acting that is rarely seen in a horror movie. Maiwenn also does a good job as the girl in peril. And did I mention that there was lots and lots of blood and gore to make us squirm? As for the now infamous plot twist at the end of the film … yeah, it does come out of left field. I really want to go back and see the movie again to see if there was support for the twist from the beginning or just a convenient and quick way to end the film.

Lions Gate Films has forever earned my “fuck you for robbing me of this film on the big screen.” I will never forgive them for this. Their attempt to mass market “High Tension” has failed as evidenced by the film’s very weak 12th place ($1.8 million) finish this past weekend.

Look at what “High Tension” was up against on its release weekend. “Star Wars,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and all the other crap that Hollywood churns out for the summer. A French horror film with no “big name” stars doesn’t stand a chance even if you trim it and dub it.

Lions Gate should have left well enough alone with the gore in the film. Leaving the film un-cut would have given it more marketability. ‘Cause we all know NC-17 films get more attention than R films. Sure you limit how many screens you open on, but fans of this kind of film would have sought it out on the big screen. Trust me. The violence is pretty graphic as it is, so I really don’t think that taking out that one minute of footage helped any. Anyone who has seen the cut and un-cut version of “Natural Born Killers” will know what I’m taking about. Plus, it’s not like this film played internationally and on the film festival circuit without being trimmed.

As for the dubbing … it was irritating and pretty pointless considering that a large section in the middle of the film was subtitled anyway. It pissed me off.

So, there you have it. I feel like “High Tension” in its U.S. release form is gonna be a love/hate thing for horror film fans. Love for the suspense/gore. Hate for the trims/dubbing (and possibly that plot twist). Hopefully the wait for the “un-cut” and “original language” dvd won’t be too long ’cause I really want to see this film as it was intended to be seen.

It’s gettin’ close. Y’all have a “killer” weekend.

For those of you so inclined you can kick it over to lotdunseen.com to get a look at the exclusive (and unrated) online trailer for George Romero’s “Land of the Dead.” Make mine “big daddy,” please.

PLUS!
Don’t forget that the trimmed and dubbed version (thank you, Lions Gate … you fuckers) of “High Tension” opens today.