High Tension is a weird, grumpy little movie about a guy who needs to grow up

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, you only watch High Tension if you have a soft spot for 1930s B-movies that feel like they were stitched together in a hurry. If you want a deep, complex drama, look somewhere else. But if you want to see a guy act like a total jerk while everyone else tries to deal with his nonsense? You might find it weirdly fun.

People who hate possessive, loud characters will absolutely despise Steve. He’s the kind of guy who sucks the air out of every room he walks into.

The vibe of the thing

The whole plot is basically built on the idea that Steve Reardon is a 'brawling cable layer.' I love how old movies just assign jobs like that. Like, is his whole personality just laying cables and throwing punches? Pretty much.

He’s got this girlfriend, Edith. She’s way too patient, which is a common trope that always gets under my skin. The way he refuses to marry her but flies into a rage if she looks at someone else is… well, it’s not exactly a healthy dynamic. It’s actually kind of toxic to watch, even for a movie from this era.

Random notes from the couch

• The pacing is all over the place. One minute they’re laying cable, the next they’re having a screaming match in a diner.
• Brian Donlevy is in this, and he brings a little bit of weight to a script that feels like it was scribbled on a napkin.
• There is a specific scene where Steve is just leaning against a desk, acting all smug, and I really wanted someone to just walk in and tell him to get lost.
• It reminded me a bit of Big Timber in terms of that rough-and-tumble industrial setting, but with way more ego involved.

There's a moment toward the middle where you can almost see the actors wondering if they’ll ever get to leave the set. They’re just cycling through these lines about work and jealousy like they’re reading a grocery list.

Is it a masterpiece? Absolutely not. It doesn’t try to be. It’s just a loud, slightly annoying, and totally dated flick about a man who needs a reality check. Sometimes that’s enough for a rainy afternoon. Other times, you just wish the movie had a mute button for the lead character. 🙄

It’s not as interesting as Money to Burn, but it’s got a weird energy that makes it hard to turn off. You’re just waiting to see if he finally gets told off. Spoiler: he doesn't really.