Synopsis
Best friends Marie and Alexia decide to spend a quiet weekend at Alexia's parents' secluded farmhouse. But on the night of their arrival, the girls' idyllic getaway turns into an endless night of horror.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Cécile de FranceMarie
- MaïwennAlexia
- Philippe NahonThe Killer
- Andrei FintiAlex' Father
- Oana PelleaAlex' Mother
- Marco Claudiu PascuTom
- Franck KhalfounJimmy
- Jean-Claude de GorosGendarmerie captain
- Bogdan UritescuGendarme
- Gabriel SpahiuMan in the car
- 75
ReelViews
The film revels in blood and gore, but this is not just a run-of-the-mill splatter film. There's a lot of intelligence in both the script and in Alexandre Aja's direction. - 60
Variety
Deftly juggles gore and suspense, and punchline holds an intellectual frisson or two for fans of gender-role speculation, but basically this is one more horror pic on the distinguished road already trodden by "Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Maniac" and the like. - 60
Village Voice
Manages--before faltering under the weight of its own pretensions--to be pretty scary. - 60
L.A. Weekly
While the acting is fine and the direction accomplished, the real stars of the film are editor Baxter and cinematographer Maxime Alexandre. Forfeiting a gold star is whoever haphazardly dubbed the film, simply giving up about halfway through. - 50
The A.V. Club
Though staged with technical skill and unflinching brutality, it's an awfully familiar-looking slaughter filled with moments on loan from other movies. - 42
Entertainment Weekly
The latest reshuffling of "Chainsaw" tropes. - 40
Dallas Observer
High Tension often feels like a ’70s exploitation movie in the best sense; unfortunately, the ending is so bad that it mars everything that comes before. - 40
The Hollywood Reporter
That outrageous third-act reveal proves to be a major deal-breaker.