MovieChat Forums > Haute tension (2005) Discussion > If you're pissed at the twist, a second ...

If you're pissed at the twist, a second viewing might help. Hear me out.

posted 6 years ago by artguylarry (498)
7 replies | jump to latest

It took me a second viewing to understand the plot twist. First of all, like many of the IMDb posters pointed out some time back, she is not just an obsessed killer. She is a split personality. Marie was two "people" completely unaware of each other battling it out. On one side, she was the killer, and on the other, she was running FROM (or in the end TOWARD) the killer. But it takes a second look. Because that's where you'll start to see things you didn't see before, and you'll start to understand why the twist makes sense. But the whole film will be completely wasted on anyone who only watches it once, In my mind, it went from complete cop out to clever and mind blowing.

However, putting that into perspective, the second viewing turned around and presented a number of points in the film where things that made sense the first time no longer made sense. Like Marie chasing the truck in the car, or watching a murder from inside the closet. But I just chalked it up to cheap tricks to throw viewer suspicion.

The twist was clever enough, and for the gore hounds, the kills are well done (the unrated "Haute Tension" is the only one to watch). This was a fun ride, and now that I know what's happening, it makes it more rewatchable.

[–] ADBruno1985 (3307) 5 years ago

Agreed. "Like Marie chasing the truck in the car, or watching a murder from inside the closet. But I just chalked it up to cheap tricks to throw viewer suspicion." So those things didn't *really* happen like that, and beyond throwing viewer suspicion, you could view it as what's happening to Marie internally as the two identities struggle for control of her body. Sort of a metaphor. I know that's a bit of a reach, but it does work.

Similarly, the truck. Maybe the truck actually belonged to Alex's family and was just on the property, and when Marie's killer identity suddenly woke, she took the truck and her mind invented a backstory for it to make the killer identity more real. After all, so much else is going on in her head, why not that too?

[–] Strazdas (2328) 4 years ago

I think cheap tricks of things not fitting with the plot is show of poor filmmaking and not something that can be easily waved away.

[–] FatherStack1987 (171) 4 years ago

I've seen this film three times and trust me, it's still one of the most stupid twist-endings I've ever seen in a film. Multiple viewings certainly do not help.

[–] ODB82 (2055) 4 years ago

I only enjoyed it more the second time around because I knew the lame ass twist that did nothing for me.
The twist didn’t get better. I was just less annoyed.

[–] FatherStack1987 (171) 4 years ago

I get that. It just annoys me at how good the rest of the film is.

[–] ODB82 (2055) 4 years ago

Oh, it’s still super unfortunate. Enjoyable until the shrug and eye roll ending.

[–] Anotherday (7062) 4 years ago

If you think of the personality of Marie, she's always behind or hidden from the killer personality. Its symbolic of the personality being detached or unknowing of what the other is doing. It still has plot holes, but it was a good attempt.