42
Metascore
30 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliThe film revels in blood and gore, but this is not just a run-of-the-mill splatter film. There's a lot of intelligence in both the script and in Alexandre Aja's direction.
- 60VarietyLisa NesselsonVarietyLisa NesselsonDeftly juggles gore and suspense, and punchline holds an intellectual frisson or two for fans of gender-role speculation, but basically this is one more horror pic on the distinguished road already trodden by "Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Maniac" and the like.
- 60Village VoiceMark HolcombVillage VoiceMark HolcombManages--before faltering under the weight of its own pretensions--to be pretty scary.
- 60L.A. WeeklyErnest HardyL.A. WeeklyErnest HardyWhile the acting is fine and the direction accomplished, the real stars of the film are editor Baxter and cinematographer Maxime Alexandre. Forfeiting a gold star is whoever haphazardly dubbed the film, simply giving up about halfway through.
- 50The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThe A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThough staged with technical skill and unflinching brutality, it's an awfully familiar-looking slaughter filled with moments on loan from other movies.
- 42Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanThe latest reshuffling of "Chainsaw" tropes.
- 40Dallas ObserverLuke Y. ThompsonDallas ObserverLuke Y. ThompsonHigh Tension often feels like a ’70s exploitation movie in the best sense; unfortunately, the ending is so bad that it mars everything that comes before.
- 40The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenThe Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenThat outrageous third-act reveal proves to be a major deal-breaker.
- 25Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittSerial killing and other insanity in the French countryside, with ineptly dubbed English dialogue.
- 10Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonSuch a bizarre movie that it has completely occupied my thinking for days. Not because it's a good movie, mind you. It's more like the equivalent of a botched tooth extraction with a coat hanger. Some bloody shard remains stuck in an inflamed, fleshy part of my psyche, and it's going to take some serious tugging and tearing to root it out.