High Tension hit theaters in 2003 and sparked controversy with its merciless spiral of violence and surprising ending. Also with the local youth protection. The French horror hit had to be cut in Germany and ended up on list B of media harmful to young people. For years it was only available uncut via import. That should change soon.
In March, High Tension was taken off the charts and now given an 18+ rating, urged by Plaion Pictures, according to Cut Reports. High Tension is allowed to appear in its entirety in Germany, 20 years after it was released in cinemas.
Check out the US trailer for High Tension here:
High Tension (2003) TRAILER
High Tension belongs to the New French Hardness – and lives up to this title
Marie (Cécile de France) and Alex (Maïwenn) are inseparable. The best friends actually just want to spend a weekend together at Alex’s parents’ when the doorbell rings and the horror takes its course. A serial killer has it in for the house and while Alex’s family falls victim to him bit by bit, the two young women fight for survival together.
French director Alexandre Aja broke through with High Tension and then embarked on a Hollywood career with The Hills Have Eyes remake and Piranha 3D. Its merciless slasher second installment is part of a wave of horror films from our neighboring country that caused a stir in the early 2000s. The so-called New French Hardship or New French Extremity brought forth controversial films such as Trouble Every Day, Irreversible, Frontier(s), Martyrs or Inside – What she wants is in you, which combined auteur film elements and drastic depictions of violence.
High Tension is one of the more classic horror films in this unofficial movement. Ajas Reißer gets down to business quickly and, with his make-up by genre maestro Giannetto De Rossi (Woodoo – The Zombie Island), pays homage to the relevant role models of the 70s. The ending was received with mixed feelings then, as it is now, but those who enjoy a lustfully staged carnage will be entertained first-class with High Tension.
There is still no release date for the uncut version of the modern horror classic.