5. Switchblade Romance
Also known as High Tension this French slasher movie that kick started the career of Alexandra Aja is an expertly crafted film even if the shocking twist has you scratching your head for days. Set on a remote country farm the film takes place over one terror filled night when Alexia and her family are visited by a grunting hulk of a man with murder on his mind. After a relatively quick blood soaked killing spree the majority of the movie centres on Marie as she takes off in pursuit of the killer that has her best friend chained up in his truck, becoming an incredibly tense cat and mouse game until the two finally come to head to head. The nameless villain here is a ruthless neanderthal of a man whose heavy breathing and creaking boots is enough to fill anyone with dread as our wannabe heroine struggles countless times to escape being spotted by him. High Tension is a much better title for this film, you are likely to spend the majority of it clinging to the edge of your seat, praying that Marie and Alexia escape the clutches of this most fearsome of killers. Another strength of Switchblade Romance is its ability to completely knock you for six as the twist is revealed; the first viewing of this film is an experience that can never be enjoyed again but you will probably want to watch it over and over just to piece together the plot in retrospect.