12 Underrated Horror Movie Gems From The 2000s

12. High Tension

Alexandre Aja’s grim and grisly slasher flick follows best buds, Marie and Alex on a trip to visit Alex’s parents in the countryside. Sounds nice enough until the viewer meets a murderous delivery man out to kill every last inhabitant of the parents’ home. What follows is a ferocious fight for survival where the pair wield every potential weapon on offer against the killer.

Both praised and criticised for some truly bizarre plot twists in the second half, High Tension lives up to its title throughout. Lead performers Cécile de France and Maïwenn do a convincing job of the blood-soaked material, adding greatly to the film’s suspense. Aja’s reliance on practical effects over CGI keeps the violence looking more authentic and visceral. Renowned horror make-up artist Gianetto de Rossi keeps everything looking sickening real throughout.

While well received amongst filmmakers (Wes Craven was so impressed he hired Aja to remake The Hills Have Eyes), High Tension struggled to acquire a major audience. Censored and edited to avoid the dreaded NC-17 rating in the United States, the film was also given an English-language re-dub. Fortunately, the original French cut is available these days and worth a viewing for slasher fans.