High Tension (2003) + Hard Candy (2005/Lionsgate Blu-Rays)
Picture: (B-/C+) Sound: (B-/C) Extras: B-
Films: (B-/C-)
Here we have two horror films from Lionsgate that
are new to Blu-Ray. We will first be
taking a look at the film High Tension from director Alexandre Aja, who
most recently helmed the film Piranha 3D. The story follows a girl visiting her family
with a school friend in tow. Not long at the house, they are soon pursued by a
killer who viciously eliminates the girl's family. The killer's identity is secluded from the
audience throughout the film, until the full scope of the events is allowed to
gel. It is then that we are able to
witness the film with a new set of eyes.
This is a fairly clever movie, and was instrumental in the recent return of the
down and dirty horror film. It also
landed Aja on the map, and secured his seat as director of the surprisingly
excellent Hills Have Eyes remake. Unfortunately, his two films since then, Mirrors
and Piranha 3D have been remakes of other films as well. This seems to be slowly dulling his
sensibilities, and I hope to see him return to original works in the near
future.
The film Hard Candy is also a thriller with some twists, but
unfortunately it is not as intriguing or as thoughtful as High Tension. It is directed by David Slade and stars Ellen
Page prior to her mainstream break in Juno, a film that, although much
lighter in tone, also finds her in an odd pairing with an older man. Here she turns to the internet to sniff out a
30-something photographer who also happens to be a pedophile. Posing as an innocent girl out to hook up with
him, they chat for a while before she suggests that they meet up. He is happy to oblige her, but soon finds
himself drugged, bound and at her mercy as she seeks to avenge the death of
another young girl that he was involved in.
Although not without surprises, the film is still too straightforward and lacks
the energy it needs to work. This is the
same problem that David Slade encountered again with his adaptation of 30
Days of Night - the film was simply too clean and boring when the source
material allows for so much more exploration.
Extra content includes full length commentary tracks with the writers and
directors of each film, as well as some interesting behind the scenes
featurettes.
The video is presented in 1080P high definition resolution with a 2.35:1 scope aspect
ratio for both titles. Better use of
lighting and framing, as well as a more interesting use of palette on High
Tension cause it to rate slightly higher. The quality of the image is about the same for
both films, and looks quite good on these transfers.
There are 5.1 DTS-HD sound mixes for both films. High Tension also
includes the original French dialogue track in a 7.1 mix, also in the DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) lossless format. Overall sound quality is good with nice use of
surround.
High Tension is a love letter to fans of films such as Psycho and
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and it ably finds what works best about
those movies and blends their unique flavors quite well. Hard Candy is a little more difficult
to recommend, but it has certainly won over many fans these past few years. There are good performances in it, and it is
one of the few movies out there that is willing to discuss the sensitive topic
of internet predators. For fans of thrillers, you could do worse than this
film.
- David Milchick
