The Rabid Dog’s House is a recurring feature at Wicked Horror where contributor Justin Steele uncovers hidden gems, lost classics, and overlooked indie offerings. Flying solo or with his co-host Zena Dixon, he will discuss an array of topics covering film, literature, and television. Check out the latest installment below. In this episode we’re looking back at 1997’s Intensity and 2003’s High Tension!
Check out: Fun Loving and Fed-Up Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives [Rabid Dog’s House]
In Dean Koontz’s 1995 novel Intensity, a young woman with loner-like tendencies accompanies a friend to her family home. That night a mysterious man creeps in to murder the family and brutalize the friend. The young woman remains undetected as she follows the man on a thrilling ride through a series of events duplicated in the 1997 Intensity miniseries starring John C. McGinley and Molly Parker, and is completely ripped off in 2003’s High Tension. Director Alexandre Aja and writing partner Gregory Levasseur were happy to credit nameless horror flicks and his writing skills for the success of High Tension, but reluctant to give any credit to writer Dean Koontz, of whom actually created the story.
Related: The Intensity of High Tension: A Look at Plagiarism in Horror!
Directed by Yves Simoneau, 1997’s Intensity (a.k.a. Dean Koontz’s Intensity) has been overlooked long enough. For those frustrated with the polarizing ending in High Tension should check out this suspenseful thriller with captivating performances, with just as exciting a story and a much more logical conclusion.
Join Justin and Zena below as they review 1997’s Intensity and further discuss the crazy drama of the novel, the miniseries, and High Tension below!
