Quote:
Originally posted by Zero
...i don't think this makes me 'closed-minded' but a demanding viewer.
|
After watching the film, I realized one thing that was missing in the way I watch films. Immersing oneself completely when the film begins up until the end has always been sort of -the- goal.
But Zero puts into words what I needed: to be a demanding viewer. To not merely absorb the film in its entirety, but to chew it as well.
It has always been something of a feat to get my husband to watch films that people rave about in forums: Session 9, The Descent, and now High Tension. But at the end of it, he says he doesn't regret having seen this one. Which is not to say he liked it.
Unlike me, you see, he doesn't just take the film in. He always questions and analyzes. A demanding viewer! He doesn't remember details. He remembers the film as a whole concept.
Quote:
Originally posted by Zero
...a film like high tension, which i liked in ways, left me feeling, for want of a better term, 'cheated.' but i don't really know why?
|
Overall, I felt the same. Deceived. Here lies -- what I feel is -- the difference of this particular film from other schizophrenia themed films like The Machinist and Fight Club. The narrative is coherent. There is a prevalent sense within its elements. High Tension suffers from deficiencies in both.
Quote:
Originally posted by The STE
...felt completely tacked on, like the writer just pulled something out of his ass at the last second and made it seem like it was deep or something. It wasn't at all effective, and just because it was unpredictable doesn't mean it was good.
|
Following the abovementioned theme, High Tension fails because it provides no subtle clues, apart from Maria dreaming about running after herself, of her condition. And as abundant in gore as it was -- which impressed me in some instances -- the execution and style left it much too blatant and crude.
"Pornographic," my husband said.