Review #1,178: 'Switchblade Romance' (2003)

Following a successful run at the Toronto Film Festival, Alexandre Aja's Haute Tension - released as High Tension in most countries apart from the UK, where it was given the title of Switchblade Romance - was picked up for a wide release in the US and had to be heavily edited to achieve its desired R rating. Snipped of a few gore-soaked scenes and, in a desperate attempt to attract more English-speaking punters, was dubbed, a device which only seems acceptable in 1970s kung-fu flicks. Fans were understandably pissed off, especially die-hards of the genre, until the 'Unrated Cut' was inevitably released. Even with the director's original 'vision' restored, Switchblade Romance is still a trashy horror disguised as quasi-art-house, and one that relies on a tacked-on 'twist' ending that becomes more and more questionable after the credits have rolled.

Two young women, Marie (Cecile De France) and Alexia (Maiwenn), arrive at the latter's parents house in the French countryside for some time away from the city to work and study. After a tour of the place and dinner, Marie settles down for the night by masturbating. Her fun is interrupted by the arrival of a huge man dressed in overalls (Philippe Nahon), who proceeds to systematically butcher the entire family, including a young boy who is thankfully killed off-screen. Alexia is spared, but is bound, gagged and thrown into the back of a van, but not before Marie can join her without the killer being aware of her presence. And so begins a road trip across country, with Marie and the killer playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, as it appears that the psychopath has finally met his match.

Ignoring the obvious plagiarism of Dean Koontz's novel Intensity (even down the title!), Aja's movie follows the slasher tropes to a T, attempting to pass itself off a something more than a mere Texas Chain Saw wannabe by filming the action with a blood-sticky sheen. But make no mistake, this is far more interested in riffing on far better movies such as Tobe Hooper's aforementioned classic, as well as Psycho, The Hitcher, Maniac and the film Aja would remake in 2006, The Hills Have Eyes. While the special effects are skillfully done and the movie is anchored by a strong performance by De France, there's little in the way of originality here, further evidenced by Aja's subsequent remake-laden career in Hollywood. For the most part, this is nasty, unpleasant stuff, and one that will undoubtedly satisfy gore-hounds. For those of us who expect more from horror than a few murder scenes strung together by the slimmest of plots, it will leave a bad taste in the mouth.


Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Starring: Cécile De France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun
Country: France/Italy/Romania

Rating: **

Tom Gillespie