This Day in Horror History: HIGH TENSION Was Unleashed in the U.S.
On this day in horror history, Lionsgate released an English-dubbed version of Alexandre Aja’s High Tension in 1,323 theaters in the United States in 2005.
Lionsgate picked up the film following a screening at the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival. Originally rated NC-17 for strong graphic violence, Lionsgate re-edited it to secure an R rating, re-dubbed it in English, and spent $14 million in marketing. That said, it only grossed $3.6 million in the U.S. and was released the unrated version on Blu-ray and DVD.
Written by Aja and Grégory Levasseur it centers on a beautiful young woman, Alex who travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along her friend Marie. Soon after they get settled in the secluded home, Alex’s parents are brutally attacked by a psychotic truck driver. When the killer kidnaps Alex in his truck, Marie hides in the back to try and rescue her, but the bloodshed is far from over.
Associated with the New French Extremity movement it stars Cécile de France, Maïwenn, and Philippe Nahon. Rated R for graphic bloody killings, terror, sexual content and language, it sports a 41% rating over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: There is indeed a good amount of tension in this French slasher, but the dubbing is bad and the end twist unbelievable.
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