Switchblade Romance
2003
Switchblade Romance stars Cecile de France (Around the World in 80 Days) and Maïwenn (The Fifth Element, Leon) as Marie and Alexia, two inseparable friends who embark on a nightmarish journey into the depths of terror, one flesh-crawling evening. Fresh from Luc Besson's successful Europa stable, Switchblade Romance drips with .. Read more
| Starring | Cecile De France, Maiwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon |
|---|---|
| Director | Alexandre Aja |
| Genres | Horror, Thriller, World Cinema |
loading...
Switchblade Romance
Switchblade Romance stars Cecile de France (Around the World in 80 Days) and Maïwenn (The Fifth Element, Leon) as Marie and Alexia, two inseparable friends who embark on a nightmarish journey into the depths of terror, one flesh-crawling evening. Fresh from Luc Besson's successful Europa stable, Switchblade Romance drips with palpable tension and bloody carnage.
| Starring | Cecile De France, Maiwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon |
|---|---|
| Director | Alexandre Aja |
| Studio | HIGH FLIERS |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 30 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 31 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror, Thriller, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: French Blu-ray: English |
| Dubbed | None |
| Subtitles | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Released | DVD: 31 Jan 2005 Blu-ray: 20 Jul 2009 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (5)
View all -
When French director and co-writer Alexandre Aja called this chiller Haute Tension (High Tension), he certainly picked the right title. Renamed less aptly for English audiences, it's still a nail-biter. There's no anxiety-releasing irony, only seat-edge horror, as desperate student Marie (Cécile de France) tries to rescue her best friend Alex (Maïwenn) after she's kidnapped from a remote farmhouse by a psychopath who's slaughtered her entire family. Though relentlessly gruesome, the feature is more about atmosphere than gore. Every single frame is meticulously composed for maximum effect, while the ultra-glossy production values take it far beyond the realms of the traditional slasher flick. The ultimate twist is pretty unnecessary, but overall this is a terrifying tale that's not easily forgotten. Don't be put off by the subtitles, either — the sparse dialogue makes the film highly accessible.
-
The good old bad old days are back again with this heavy-duty psycho flick in which 26-year-old French director Aja,... read more on Time Out
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
26 out of 27 people found this review helpful
High Tension all the way
This is French director's Alexandre Aja's throwback to the kind of horror films we used to guilelessly enjoy somewhere between the early 70's to the very early 80's. Switchblade Romance is a tour-de-force slasher film that pulls absolutley no punches and makes no excuses for what it is. It exists to entertain its target audience and nothing more, and this it does in spades. The premise is simple: Alex, played by Maiwenn Le Besco (The Fifth Element) is visiting her parents' isolated farmhouse. Accompanying her is her friend Marie, played by Cecile De France (Around the world in 80 days). What they don't know, however, is that they wont be the only ones dropping by. I'll get straight to it: Switchblade Romance (original title: High Tension) plays like Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre spliced with William Lustig's Maniac. For example, not only do we get a completely OTT buzzsaw scene near the film's climax, but also a particularly nail-biting restroom sequence that plays right out of Lustig's aforementioned sleaze-opus. The entire tone of the film is much heavier, much darker than what we've become accustomed to of late, and this is no bad thing at all. As gruelling as they are delightful, are the scenes in which Phillipe Nahon's grunting psychopath mercilessly works his way through the farmhouse in ridiculously bloody fashion. Special Make-up fx come courtesy of Italian veteran (or should I say legend) Giannetto De Rossi (Demons; Zombie Flesh eaters), and is surely some of the best work he's done in years. Overall, I'd say Switchblade Romance is possibly the best horror film in over a decade, and easily the best slasher film since Michele Soavi's 1987 Stagefright (also highly recommended). The script and direction are kept tight, the performances, especially from Cecille De France, are excellent, and the choice of Muse's 'NewBorn', as the film's obligatory rock track, is the cherry on top of this particularly satisfying slice of genre cinema.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE THIS FILM? Because it's brilliant, pure and simple.
WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THIS FILM? Because films with subtitles, no matter how highly recommended, are a dish best scraped into the bin. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Gianetto de Rossi!
Cool effects from the guy who did zombie flesh eaters, great story & acting, you don't get interesting stuff like this from Hollywood.
Original french title is high tension which is a more suitable title. Don't watch if your squeamish... -
More like this
View all
Related user collection
MAD MEN, PSYCHO'S, SERIAL KILLERS AND BOOGEY MEN (183)
60.2% from 53 members
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
- Switchblade Romance - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £9.93
Free Delivery - RRP £15.99 (you save: 38%)
Two friends, Marie and Alex set off to Alex's parent's secluded homestead in the country for relaxation and a chance to study. When night falls, however, the tranquillity of their location is ... -
-
-
- Switchblade Romance
- DVD: £5.93
Free Delivery - RRP £15.79 (you save: 62%)
Switchblade Romance stars Cecile de France (Around the World in 80 Days) and Maïwenn (The Fifth Element, Leon) as Marie and Alexia, two inseparable friends who embark on a nightmarish journey into ... -