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[High Lane]
Plot:A group of friends on vacation decide to venture onto a trail high up in the mountains that has been closed for repairs. The climb proves more perilous than planned. Especially as they soon realize that they're not alone. The adventure turns into a nightmare.
Cast:Fanny Valette,
Raphael Lenglet,
Johan Libereau,
Nicolas Giraud,
Maud Wyler.
My Thoughts:Terrific horror/suspense/thriller!
Review:"High Lane" is a French genre pic in which a group of young people venture into hiking a high-elevation mountain trail. They're on vacation, and make the decision to do this to test themselves. But the trail has been closed for repairs for sometime, and while the group of young people aren't that worried about the repairs, as they seem experienced hiking this kind of terrain...they are about to become worried. The group soon comes under attack from an unseen enemy, who has various weapons, traps, etc...at his disposal. What does he want? And will the group of young people survive the encounter? Or will they be done in by their attacker, the unforgiving terrain, or both?
"High Lane" will be classified by many as the French version of "Wrong Turn". But the truth is, it isn't better than "Wrong Turn", but it's just as exciting and suspenseful in it's own way...as "Wrong Turn". Both movies are vastly different. For starters, in "Wrong Turn"...it was a group of people on a camping trip who were stranded. And then ran into another stranded motorist, Chris Flynn. "High Lane" actually draws more of a comparison to "The Descent". Another movie where a climbing-related trip, turns tragic. Only "High Lane" is set outside, while "The Descent" was set in subterranean trappings.
And "High Lane" involves a group of people on a mountain-climbing expedition. Something "Wrong Turn" had nothing to do with. However, two comparisons can be drawn between both movies. Two...and only two. "High Lane" is set in a place which has a history of disappearances, only drawing comparisons to the place being a real life locale, where people have actually disappeared. "Wrong Turn" had the same mythology backing it's story, but it was mostly fabricated that these three mountain men had been preying on numerous people, and taking their belongings.
The second comparison is the villain in "High Lane". Like some of the freaks in "Wrong Turn", he is armed to the teeth with sharp weapons and deadly traps. Better to catch and kill his prey with. Beyond those two comparisons, both films are very different. And "High Lane" actually has a higher element of suspense considering where it's set. It has some excellent camerawork and directing. Catching the dizzying, high elevations of the mountains perfectly. In fact, just watching the movie on a big screen tv makes you feel like you're really experiene the terrifying heights right along with the characters, who are trekking across them.
The characters in the movie are pretty likeable too, and the writer got it right with these kids. Their conversations, dialogue, and speaking parts are well written. As in they're not all about sexual innuendo, profanity-laced, or verbal abuse. It's nice to see a group of people that are just out to have fun and do something exciting together, without having to hear the "F", "S", "MF", or "SOB" bomb dropped every two minutes. Nor the constant battle between the men of who's gonna get laid by who. Reality or not, that style has been so overplayed in American horror films, and some European horror films as well...that it's nice to see a director and writer take that into account with their movie.
Besides, that kind of coarse language and behavior takes some of the edge off of the movie. And you would like to see the anger, rage, and terror emotions of these kids come out when it should come out. Which is when they're confronted by this enemy that means them harm. To see them being verbally aggresive and rude with one another, kind of kills the whole sharp, effect of the first moment they would and or will come under attack. "High Lane" isn't a super bloody movie, but it's bloody enough for the genre it's representing.
But it also has high levels of suspense. It's not one of those movies where the death and carnage begin early. It's eased into, as the kids situation becomes more and more perilous. Which mostly begins when they realize their rope to get back to the other side of the mountains has been purposely severed. The movie also makes sure to split the kids up into groups. By that I mean how they interact with the killer. Some fight back, a few don't, and others are so taken by surprise that they really can't fight back. So it's an interesting mix, and the films always keeps you off guard and on your toes.
You never know what to expect, and it's predictability level, scene by scene, is very low...and almost nonexistent. The films finale is a very strong finish, but also...gives the movie it's very first blemish. The ending isn't a total downer, and it wasn't enough to make me hate or disavow the entire film, but I'll just say that poor decision making has it's consequences, in terms of the ending. I found the ending somewhat disappointing.
And not because it wasn't exciting, because it was, and not because it didn't have the proper amount of suspense...because it did, but rather because I didn't agree with how things concluded in reference to a particular character in the movie, and their "ultimate" decision. "High Lane" is still a strong film though, and I would suggest for anyone who likes european-horror, and is looking for something new and exciting from that particular corner of the world, when it comes to horror...to give it a watch.
Positives:Many suspenseful moments, great performances, likeable characters, good script, strong elements of terror, and many exciting moments as well.
Negatives:The ending. I didn't agree with the decision a particular character made at the conclusion.
Overall:Three and a half out of four stars.
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