Movie Club (January): HAUTE TENSION with Spoilers - Page 2

JohnShaft · 02-15-2012, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francesco Dellamorte

I think maybe we need to choose a film that we have all already seen rather than one that several members have to watch first.

That might be an idea Franc. Those of us who hadn't seen it certainly did a piss-poor job of watching it. Problem with picking a movie everyone's seen though is that I think a lot of people then just go off memory instead of rewatching it - and I don't think that's the best thing to promote fresh discussion.

HAUTE TENSION-wise I watched it about a week ago, and will write my reaction to it soon. I can see why it polarized opinion.

Think the Movie Club could benefit from a month off, so I'll put a poll up for March's in due course.

Tenebraeuk · 07-31-2012, 08:15 AM

I purchased the uncut DVD of this some years back, watched it and have to say that I really enjoyed it. The "twist" ending was a bit of a cop out, but was it really any worse than having some impossible to kill Mike Myers/Jason Vorhees type providing an oh so typical slasher movie ending? Acting wise it was all a but stilted and disjointed, but so are Fulci and Argento films and I love them. The special effects were top notch in my opinion, as was expected given they were by DeRossi, and no CGI as far as I could tell.

I actually watched it again last night after reading this thread, it's still one of the better genre movies of the last decade, along with Wolf Creek (another film that splits opinion) and if you've not watched Haute Tension yet and claim to be a horror fan then you should give it a go...if only for Gianetto DeRossi's great make up effects. And yes, there is a fair amount of tension.

GORE · 07-31-2012, 09:41 AM

What was the point of the masturbation scene? I demand a thorough analysis.

Francesco Dellamorte · 07-31-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORE

What was the point of the masturbation scene? I demand a thorough analysis.

It was the trigger that sent her psychosis over the edge. She is masturbating after seeing Alex in the shower, thinking of Alex & in Alex's parents house & this sends her already damaged mind past the point of no return.

Tenebraeuk · 07-31-2012, 11:33 AM

You can read it in one of two ways.
1) It was a scene intended to show her willingness, even in a strange environment, to let herself be totally absorbed by her own psyche which could have given us a clue to her possibility of having a split personality.

2) Cheap titillation for the teenage boys watching the film.

As it was a horror film I believe number 2 is the most likely explanation given that it was a gore laden horror film and not a subtle exploration of the human mind a la Sybil.

JohnShaft · 08-01-2012, 10:02 AM

I'm annoyed I didn't write my thoughts on it after seeing it, because it's a little patchy to me now.

First of all I enjoyed HAUTE TENSION film quite a lot.
However I must say I did find myself a little cheated by the twist. It's not so much that she turned out to be the bad "guy". It's more that the camera lied.

Take for example the scene in the petrol station. I really thing that crosses the line into a cheat. I'm fine with the killer and her interacting, as the killer is just her delusion at that point.

But a scene where we see the killer, her, and someone else all there together just makes no logical sense to me. Why are we getting her viewpoint (hid by the cold drinks cabinet) while the killer (her) attacks someone else? Her whole POV there is a lie. If you want to do that scene, fine, but let's not show her POV while it's going on. We don't even need to see her at that point.

And I felt a little betrayed by scenes filmed this way even though I was expecting the twist (given the pointers I'd had to certain films/books). If I hadn't expected the twist I'd have felt even more "this is bullshit". After the petrol station scene I even said to myself "no, it can't be that the killers her after that, I must have guessed wrong".

As mentioned, the last act definitely went a little OTT in making her Voorheesian too. But I can sorta deal with that given insane people's ability to transcend physical norms.

It's a very well executed film. Wouldn't have received half of the attention (even of the positive kind) if not for that twist. I just wished they'd mislead us in a more genuine way.

It's still definitely a film I'll watch (and enjoy) again.

JohnShaft · 08-01-2012, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORE

What was the point of the masturbation scene? I demand a thorough analysis.

Yeah, I'm fine with giving this a non-titillation angle. I just see it as a clue to the audience that she's obsessed with Alex, which pays off in what she later puts her through.

As with the early conversation they have in the car, where she shows her jealously/hate over Alex sleeping with a guy like it was nothing.

To me it's the incident (that the conversation is about) that is the catalyst for her killing Alex. "If you don't want me no-one else is going to have you either".

In that conversation we also get tipoffs that Marie is gay. It's a well done scene, and it way more significant than it appears to be at the time.

JohnShaft · 08-01-2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnShaft

It's not so much that she turned out to be the bad "guy". It's more that the camera lied.

I've just recalled another example of what I consider the camera cheating. And, if I'm recalling it correctly, it's a much more egregious example than any other.

The very, very early (20-second) scene where we see the killer in his van, throwing out someone's head.

What is that about other than to (cheaply) mislead the audience about the killers existence? Marie doesn't see this. She isn't there. It doesn't make any sense to me.

Tenebraeuk · 08-01-2012, 11:09 AM

You're spot on with that opening scene, I don't know what the point of it was, could really have done without it. Overall I find Haute Tension to be heavily flawed, but so many horror films are, my main reason for purchasing it was to see the effects work as I've been a big fan of DeRossi since seeing Zombie Flesh Eaters as a kid, and for that alone it is worth at least a 7 out of 10 rating.

Francesco Dellamorte · 08-01-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnShaft

But a scene where we see the killer, her, and someone else all there together just makes no logical sense to me. Why are we getting her viewpoint (hid by the cold drinks cabinet) while the killer (her) attacks someone else? Her whole POV there is a lie. If you want to do that scene, fine, but let's not show her POV while it's going on. We don't even need to see her at that point.

The camera didn't lie. During the movie you the viewer are not watching events as they unfold. What you are watching is Marie's testimony so to speak. The very first scene in the movie is Marie handcuffed (unseen until the end) after the events of the movie in a secure ward. What you then view is her account of what happened. Early in the story Marie's mind can seperate the two personalities, hence the scene in the garage. It is only when the story nears it's conclusion that her mind can no longer create a viable co-existance for both personalities. That is when, during the chase through the forest with the saw, the image flicks between Marie & the killer.
I would agree that the scene with the severed head BJ doesn't quite work but the rest of the movie makes perfect sense. The entire movie is following Marie's fractured mind as it is forced to come to terms that the killer is actually a part of her.
It is a stunning movie

JohnShaft · 08-04-2012, 10:19 AM

I will confess I forgot about (or didn't notice) the framing device. I remember her ending up in the asylum (but not really the beginning). So I guess that does account a reason for Marie "inserting herself" into the narrative.

I wonder if less people would have had a negative reaction if they'd filmed the murder scenes without her in? I can see why they did it though. Even beyond the fact that it increased the tension with Marie, it also allowed them to do things like the scene she witnessed in the wardrobe (where the victim is reaching for Marie, while "the killer" finishes her off).

As you say, even so, the severed head BJ is incongruous with even that reality. But it's a small scene.

There's a hell of a lot to like about the film, even despite my own personal nitpicking/overanalysis. I can't really understand those who hate the film, all really based on that twist I'd imagine.

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07-31-2012, 08:15 AM	#17
Tenebraeuk Scream Queen Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 665	I purchased the uncut DVD of this some years back, watched it and have to say that I really enjoyed it. The "twist" ending was a bit of a cop out, but was it really any worse than having some impossible to kill Mike Myers/Jason Vorhees type providing an oh so typical slasher movie ending? Acting wise it was all a but stilted and disjointed, but so are Fulci and Argento films and I love them. The special effects were top notch in my opinion, as was expected given they were by DeRossi, and no CGI as far as I could tell. I actually watched it again last night after reading this thread, it's still one of the better genre movies of the last decade, along with Wolf Creek (another film that splits opinion) and if you've not watched Haute Tension yet and claim to be a horror fan then you should give it a go...if only for Gianetto DeRossi's great make up effects. And yes, there is a fair amount of tension.

07-31-2012, 09:41 AM	#18
GORE Speaking Part Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	What was the point of the masturbation scene? I demand a thorough analysis.

07-31-2012, 11:33 AM	#20
Tenebraeuk Scream Queen Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 665	You can read it in one of two ways. 1) It was a scene intended to show her willingness, even in a strange environment, to let herself be totally absorbed by her own psyche which could have given us a clue to her possibility of having a split personality. 2) Cheap titillation for the teenage boys watching the film. As it was a horror film I believe number 2 is the most likely explanation given that it was a gore laden horror film and not a subtle exploration of the human mind a la Sybil.

08-01-2012, 10:02 AM	#21
JohnShaft Administrator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North-East England Posts: 2,349	I'm annoyed I didn't write my thoughts on it after seeing it, because it's a little patchy to me now. First of all I enjoyed HAUTE TENSION film quite a lot. However I must say I did find myself a little cheated by the twist. It's not so much that she turned out to be the bad "guy". It's more that the camera lied. Take for example the scene in the petrol station. I really thing that crosses the line into a cheat. I'm fine with the killer and her interacting, as the killer is just her delusion at that point. But a scene where we see the killer, her, and someone else all there together just makes no logical sense to me. Why are we getting her viewpoint (hid by the cold drinks cabinet) while the killer (her) attacks someone else? Her whole POV there is a lie. If you want to do that scene, fine, but let's not show her POV while it's going on. We don't even need to see her at that point. And I felt a little betrayed by scenes filmed this way even though I was expecting the twist (given the pointers I'd had to certain films/books). If I hadn't expected the twist I'd have felt even more "this is bullshit". After the petrol station scene I even said to myself "no, it can't be that the killers her after that, I must have guessed wrong". As mentioned, the last act definitely went a little OTT in making her Voorheesian too. But I can sorta deal with that given insane people's ability to transcend physical norms. It's a very well executed film. Wouldn't have received half of the attention (even of the positive kind) if not for that twist. I just wished they'd mislead us in a more genuine way. It's still definitely a film I'll watch (and enjoy) again.

08-01-2012, 11:09 AM	#24
Tenebraeuk Scream Queen Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 665	You're spot on with that opening scene, I don't know what the point of it was, could really have done without it. Overall I find Haute Tension to be heavily flawed, but so many horror films are, my main reason for purchasing it was to see the effects work as I've been a big fan of DeRossi since seeing Zombie Flesh Eaters as a kid, and for that alone it is worth at least a 7 out of 10 rating.

08-04-2012, 10:19 AM	#26
JohnShaft Administrator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North-East England Posts: 2,349	I will confess I forgot about (or didn't notice) the framing device. I remember her ending up in the asylum (but not really the beginning). So I guess that does account a reason for Marie "inserting herself" into the narrative. I wonder if less people would have had a negative reaction if they'd filmed the murder scenes without her in? I can see why they did it though. Even beyond the fact that it increased the tension with Marie, it also allowed them to do things like the scene she witnessed in the wardrobe (where the victim is reaching for Marie, while "the killer" finishes her off). As you say, even so, the severed head BJ is incongruous with even that reality. But it's a small scene. There's a hell of a lot to like about the film, even despite my own personal nitpicking/overanalysis. I can't really understand those who hate the film, all really based on that twist I'd imagine.

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