Switchblade Romance

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Switchblade Romance

R

Released Jun 10, 2005

1h 29m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

131 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco), travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along her friend Marie (Cécile de France). Soon after they get settled in the secluded home, Alex's parents are brutally attacked by a psychotic truck driver (Philippe Nahon), who proceeds to stalk the two women as well. 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.

Critics Consensus

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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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Not only is it an assault on the senses, the film is so narcissistically nihilistic the only ones sure to get a kick out of it are members of the Manson Family fan club.

Rated: 1/4

Dec 13, 2005

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

The ultimate rescue, however, comes when the credits roll and the lights come up.

Rated: C

Jun 14, 2005

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Peter Debruge

Premiere Magazine

Rated: 2/4

Jun 14, 2005

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Brian Bisesi

Horror Movie Club Podcast

For most viewers, the success of High Tension will hinge upon the third act’s bold reveal. For me, the frustration of that reveal nearly erases any of the movie’s shallow merits.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 14, 2024

Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

It completely unsettles the viewer like anything else to come out of the New French Extremity. The only difference is High Tension achieves its goal in the most unexpected way.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 21, 2023

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

A very effective French horror film that takes a simplistic premise and milks it for every ounce of suspense possible.

Rated: B

Nov 19, 2019

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Wyndham M

This would make a great franchise

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

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J R

Absolutely love this film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

Full Review

Frannko T

La premisa es buena, va por buen camino la historia, luego llega a un momento en el que aburre pero de allí tiene un giro de trama qué te hace decir, ay cabron!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

Full Review

Steffan S

I know the film as HIGH TENSION. In my opinion, the film is the most exciting film of the last 40...50 years. From about minute 25 onwards, it's just high tension. Unbelievable. The excessive depiction of violence was also a clear non plus ultra at the time. HIGH TENSION ushered in the "French terror horror wave". In my opinion, the film is the best terror shocker of all time. Some people write that the film is pointless and has logical holes. If so, these people simply don't understand the film. Basically, you just have to remember the FIRST SCENE in the film..."OK, record everything". At the beginning of the film, she tells HER story. From the gas station (surveillance video) onwards, the TRUE story is told, that it wasn't him but SHE who was the killer. This was perfectly evident in one scene...in the gas station. When the psycho puts on his sunglasses. At that moment, if you press pause and zoom in, you can see Marie through the lens of his sunglasses. From that point on, you know who the killer was...if you recognize this Easter egg. The film is psychologically portrayed absolutely perfectly. Ultimately, it was a murder out of love, which was not reciprocated...scene on the street..."Do you love me...huh?" "You don't love me...". Simply brilliantly portrayed. The perfect thriller!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Chris F

It's rough around the edges, but it is a ripping good time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Regina P

Cool story. I did not catch on until the store video surveillance footage was shown. I was still confused as to how it must have looked to the victim, but it worked.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

Full Review

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Alexandre Aja

Director

Cécile de France

Marie

Maïwenn

Alex

Philippe Nahon

Le tueur

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Jimmy

Andrei Finti

Le père d'Alex

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Synopsis

A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco), travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along her friend Marie (Cécile de France). Soon after they get settled in the secluded home, Alex's parents are brutally attacked by a psychotic truck driver (Philippe Nahon), who proceeds to stalk the two women as well. 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.

Director: Alexandre Aja
Producer: Robert Benmussa, Alexandre Arcady, Luc Besson
Screenwriter: Grégory Levasseur, Alexandre Aja
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: EuropaCorp, Alexandre Films
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Bloody Killings|Sexual Content|Terror)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 10, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.6M
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)