Switchblade Romance [2003]

Customer Reviews:

Aja gave us a graphic and brutal film without any remorse.......2007-10-27

Alexandre Aja takes us to a roller-coaster of horror in a movie that lives up to its name. "Haute Tension" keeps the tension to the max as we see a return to the visceral gory violence without being vulgar or void exploitation. In fact, the film manages to hold a perfect equilibrium between the elegance and beauty of French film-making and brutal grim horror of movies like Hooper's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre".

Cécile De France plays Marie, who is visiting her college friend Alexia (Maïwenn Le Besco) in rural France. The day she arrives, a mysterious man appears on an old rusty truck and brutally begins to murder Alexia's family. Marie becomes the last hope for Alexia to survive the brutal killings. Great moments of suspense and tension are built, as the fantastic performance of Cécile grabs the attention of the public; she really owns the screen and is a perfect match for Philippe Nahon, as the ruthless killer.

The most recognizable thing about this movie is how strong the violence is. It is really a movie that will impress people with its graphic violence. The make-up and SFX are great and very realistic. While some killings are clichéd, others are very surprising. Nevertheless, even when it seems that is gory just for the sake of being gory, the camera-work gives images of complete beauty in the composition of the scene. The colors are so well handled that at times the movie gives the impression of being a horrifying canvas. There aren't that many killings in the film (only 5 and one isn't shown) but they are BLOODY!! Not just a little blood here and there...this film throws BUCKETS at the viewer. It's more than a little disturbing and this film has no humor in it. It has a grim, dark tone from the very beginning and never lets up.

The plot is quite simple, not everything is perfect, and I have to say again that the scrip is probably its big flaw. The glaring plot holes are big enough to keep you thinking about them, something writers should avoid like the plague. Nevertheless, Aja's execution will keep you on the edge of the seat and probably, asking for more. While many things have been written about the ending, I thought it was a fitting and (although unoriginal) ending to the brutal trip, since probably is not the ending what matters, but the way Aja takes us to it. In the end, a movie that stays true to the most brutal school of horror, and yet it still delivers more than the typical slasher. A must-see for horror fans, but be warned...this is some strong stuff.

really enjoyable.......2007-09-12

what we have here is a fantastic atmospheric horror with enough splatter to keep the gorehounds happy!!!
the basic story is that 2 girls retire to the countryside away from distractions so that they can revise for exams, all goes well until the first night a loony shows up and slaughters the family and kidknapps one of the girls. from here on the tension is cranked all the way upto 10 and beyond and the direction is exceptional.
the 2 girls but in real fullblooded performances and the film flys past at a cracking speed, there isnt a single section where you are left to get bored as something is always happening.
yes ok the end will be something that people are going to argue about...but i thought it was quite clever and ust added to the sick carnival of loonacy that had gone on for the rest of the film.
if you want a horror film that relies on more than just gore then this is well worth having a look at.

Good ending or rubbish ending? Watch it and decide for yourself........2007-08-02

Firstly, a word of warning, DO NOT read R.J.Halls review if you haven't seen this film. Selfishly, they give the ending away. I don't know how this was published but let's hope Amazon remove it soon.

Anyway, onto the film. Opinions of this film are fairly consistent up until the final act. The film is full of tension and suspense throughout and at times will have you firmly perched on the edge of your seat. There is one particular moment in which I jumped out of my skin, and it is very cleverly done. Rather than relying on a big sound effect to make you jump, the scare comes totally from the visuals and proves very unsettling.

The tension is stacked up throughout the film and then we get to the twist. I actually thought it was pretty clever and was therefore able to enjoy the film in its entirety. That said I can totally appreciate why some viewers found the ending disappointing.

Overall I think horror fans will really enjoy the first three quarters and will ultimately decide there overall enjoyment by how satisfied they are with the ending. The best way to judge is to do what I did, take on board others comments, but just watch the film yourself. One thing I can guarantee is that this will leave a strong impression you, either positively or negatively. There will definitely be no in between.

Excellent French Horror.......2007-02-23

With a talented, small cast the movie "Switchblade Romance" is one that truly lives up to it's alternative title in America of "High Tension" -- and, of it's title in France ""Haute Tension". With some excellent camera work, scenery, and an emotionless, twisted villain this is a horror movie that throughout remains steps ahead of other slasher movies of its kind. The acting is excellent, the tension is indeed high, and the gore isn't for the faint-hearted. Though some people will find themselves disappointed with the closing fifteen minutes of this sinister, dark horror movie; Everything that comes before the end is tense, suspenseful and truly creepy.

Cecile De France plays student Marie -- who is the character the movie focuses almost entirely throughout -- and Maiwennn Le Besco plays the part of her friend and co-student Alex. The pair travel to the countryside to visit Alex's family. Soon after settling in the pair of holidaying women and Alex's family are visited by a homicidal, nameless man who immediately begins leaving a trail of corpses in his wake. From thereon the viewer witnesses Marie battling to save her own life along with those of Alex and her family.

"Switchblade Romance" isn't plentiful in lingering camera shots at bloodshed and gore. Instead, it is a movie that works in short snappy sequences whenever the violence -- which IS plentiful -- commences. However, this doesn't mean that horror fans looking for a little bit of gore in an otherwise highly spooky movie will be left disappointed because, as mentioned earlier, it still refuses to be light on the aforementioned gore. You will find lingering shots on Marie throughout the movie as she tries to figure out ways to defeat the evil psychopath using a series of sharp, vicious weapons. "Switchblade Romance" remains this way throughout.

As a horror movie of this nature it is of an average to short length, meaning everything happens pretty fast in its total running time of 88 Minutes. So, for those that don't like overstretched (or juss plain long) horror/slasher movies, you'll be relieved at its convenient, sensically slim length.

"Switchblade Romance" is not for the faint-hearted movie viewers, but if what you're looking for is an excellent, smart and frightening cinematic horror movie experience then look no further then this masterpiece of french cinema.

Tres horible!.......2007-01-18

This Blotchesque classic is the tale of two girls who go away to spend a short break with the parents of one of the pair. Whilst staying there, the parents are murdered in cruel psychopathic style, by a lone stranger with a penchant for decapitation. One of the girls is tied up and kidnapped by the stranger and driven off into the night presumably for later attention. It then falls to her distressed friend to track her down and rescue her. But, as if that wasn't bad enough, this situation is much less straightforward than it seems ...

A nice piece of old school French horror, which has a couple of deliciously nasty twists that piece themselves together in fine style at the end.

Average customer rating:
Zombiez [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Jakeem Sellers
Manufacturer: Live/Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Region 1 | Special Features | DVD | Video
All Horror | Horror | Categories | DVD | Video
DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0007XBM16
Release Date: 2005-05-17

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