Directed by: Abel Ferry
Starring: Fanny Valette, Johan Libéreau, Raphaël Lenglet, Nicolas Giraud, Maud Wyler
Country: France
Genre: Horror / Thriller / Survival
Runtime: 90 minutes
Vertige (translated as Vertigo in English, though released internationally as High Lane) follows a group of young friends on a climbing trip in the Croatian mountains. What starts as a recreational hike turns deadly when they venture onto a closed, dangerous via ferrata trail. As they battle crumbling cliffs and internal tensions, they soon realize that something — or someone — is stalking them from the shadows.
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Tense Survival Horror: Vertige blends survival thriller with slasher horror, creating a claustrophobic and nerve-wracking experience. The first half is a white-knuckle ride, with vertigo-inducing mountain heights and a series of near-death climbing accidents. The camera work enhances the fear of falling with tight shots and aerial angles that mirror the characters’ vulnerability.
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Atmosphere & Setting: The real mountain locations are a huge asset. The film forgoes heavy CGI and instead grounds the horror in natural danger — fraying cables, rusted climbing hooks, and dizzying heights all contribute to the immersive dread.
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Effective Pacing: The 90-minute runtime keeps the action tight and the tension escalating. Once the survival aspect shifts to stalker-slasher territory in the second half, the film never loses momentum.
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Unexpected Genre Shift: The pivot from natural horror to human threat is sudden but works for some viewers. The introduction of a deranged antagonist hiding in the forest adds a grim twist and echoes backwoods horror like The Hills Have Eyes or Wrong Turn.
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Thin Characters: The group dynamics are clichéd — there's the nice guy, the jealous ex, the insecure leader, the reckless one, etc. While the actors do their best, character development is minimal, making it hard to care deeply when danger strikes.
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Familiar Tropes: Though Vertige delivers intense moments, it doesn’t innovate within its genres. Fans of survival or slasher films will recognize familiar setups and scares.
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Tone Shift May Divide Viewers: The transition from a realistic survival movie to a more conventional slasher thriller may feel jarring for those who preferred the tension of the climbing sequences.
While Vertige didn't receive massive international attention, it has gained a cult following among horror enthusiasts and thrill-seekers. Critics often praised its use of natural settings and suspenseful direction but were divided on the effectiveness of the horror elements in the second act.
On horror forums and review sites:
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Positive Notes: Tension, cinematography, and stunt work.
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Criticism: Generic villain, underwritten characters, and predictable final act.
Vertige is a taut, effective Euro-horror that succeeds at keeping audiences on edge, especially in its first half. While it doesn't break new ground in terms of narrative or character, it delivers on thrills with high-stakes survival scenes and a chilling atmosphere. It's a hidden gem for fans of outdoor horror and survival thrillers.
