Saturday 23 February 2008

SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE **½

Original Title: Haute Tension
France: Alexandre Aja, 2003

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2 comments:

Michael said...

Hey Lee!

I liked this one somewhat better than you - in fact, I think that, for 90% of its running time, it is as solid an exercise in tension as I've seen in some time. Unfortunately, the contrived twist ending sours it for me.

28 February 2008 at 23:45
Count Fosco said...

Hey Michael,

I recalled you had given the film quite a high rating but I couldn't find it on your screening log.

I too found the dominant part of the film very effective as an example of suspense. The tension is economically developed and Aja is evidently cabable. Sadly, the ridiculous ending spoilt it so much for me that I felt slightly peeved at having sat thought the rest of it.

Perhaps more accurately my disappointment resides in the fact I believed the hype. I had heard how good Aja was and how SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE was the best horror movies for years etc etc. I guess I could only be let down after building it up in my mind.

So for me this stripped down, effective but not innovative, exercise in tension is a take it or leave it affair.

By the way now I think of it. What was all that business with the guy in the truck pleasuring himself with the decapitated head? I mean looking back retrospectively, was this a hint at the psychosis to come mirrored later by the leading lady masturbating over Alex or have I completely missed something?

29 February 2008 at 17:25

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