"The Hills Have Eyes" Movie review

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An updated version of Wes Craven’s 1977 film of the same name, “The Hills Have Eyes” is the story of a family road trip gone terribly wrong when the travelers are stranded in a government atomic zone. Miles out of nowhere, the Carters soon realize that the seemingly uninhabited wasteland is actually the breeding ground for a bloodthirsty mutant family…and they are the prey.

Cast: Ezra Buzzington, Aaron Stanford, Emilie de Ravin, Kathleen Quinlan, Ted Levine, Vinessa Shaw, Dan Byrd, Robert Joy.

My thoughts:

Gritty and realistic like the original.

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“The Hills Have Eyes” is a remake of Wes Craven’s original 1977 film, in which a traveling family ends up stranded in a government atomic zone, which is inhabited by a very nasty mutant family. The 2006 remake really captures the spirit of the original, and in a way, it’s also a lot more twisted. This movie revolves around the Carter family Brenda, Bob, Bobby, Ethel, Ella’s eldest daughter Lynne, Ella’s husband Doug and Ella’s youngest daughter. Before introducing us to the Carters, the early part of the film quickly laments the idea that the Hills have eyes when 3 CDC agents are taken down by someone wielding an axe. It’s a very entertaining and bloody scene that nicely sets the mood and tone of the movie, before the opening credits roll. The Carters are driving to San Diego for a good old fashioned family vacation.

Now before the rationalists jump in and say huh? Doug raises the million dollar question early in the movie: why couldn’t they just “fly” like normal people? As if walking through the desert heat isn’t bad enough, the trailer they’re pulling behind them has a broken air conditioner much to Doug’s dismay. The first impression of the Carter family is the typical American red state family. While Doug seems more of the liberal Democrat type, despite being married to his eldest daughter.

This culture clash is well staged and works to enhance the film’s opening dialogue, making the film interesting from the start. Due to his differing beliefs, Bob Carter doesn’t particularly care for Lynne’s husband, Doug, and they spend many of the early moments of the movie shooting each other, which is sure to get some giggles and chuckles from the viewer. Taking a page from the book “Wrong Turn”, we are introduced to a redneck from the desert who may or may not be leading people to those “Hills”. It’s not necessarily said that he’s doing this, but he’s heavily hinted at and definitely knows about the Hill people.

After the Carters fill up the gas tank, this man takes them to a shortcut that he says will save them a couple of hours. Meanwhile, Hill’s people are watching and pulling another page out of “Wrong Turn”, they set up a spike trap to blow out the tires on the Carter family’s SUV, stranding them in the desert. Alex Aja does an excellent job building suspense in this movie because after the opening scene, we don’t see the people on the hill anymore until about 35 minutes into the movie. But Alex keeps us on the edge of our seats with scenes that strongly suggest they’re out there, lurking, watching, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Aja also keeps Hill’s people hidden most of the time. The only one we really get a full look at at the beginning of the movie is Ruby, who in comparison to the rest of Hill’s people seems almost normal. Hill’s own people are an unsettling-looking bunch, and the sounds they make along with their violent and wicked actions throughout the film are just as unsettling. Why are they violent and wicked?

Well, to make a long story short, the government wanted to test their “toys” on your land. The families refused to leave, so the government tested their “toys” there anyway. The radioactive effects caused severe deformities to all human life within the area, and when you mix in years of bitter anger over the matter, plus hideous deformities, you have fertile ground for violent and anti-social behavior. Once the Carters are stranded in this desolate wasteland… most of the scenes that follow are spent with their son Bobby chasing his two German Shepherds “Beauty” and “Beast” who continually escape the car and run off into the mountains. hills. , with one of the dogs having the unfortunate luck to cross paths with one of the people on the hill. Why would anyone bring two adult dogs that size with them on a family vacation? I will never know. Bob the Sr. and Doug decide to seek help for their dire situation, which is where the movie begins its descent into madness as Hill’s people use this opportunity to attack the remaining family members.

Obviously… misshapen and almost retarded though… the hill people understand that these suburbanites… as in the case of most families, are most vulnerable when the two adult males in the group have gone. The trailer attack scene is the highlight of the film as many shocking events unfold including the loss of three main characters and a very disturbing rape scene. Wes Craven and Alex Aja, who wrote the script for “The Hills Have Eyes,” didn’t really shy away from the graphic nature of the film and stayed true to the original. The deaths, while not many, still pack a huge punch because of how scenes are set up and written to happen. Craven and Aja also do a great job with the revenge angle of the story, as those who managed to survive the trailer attack decide to take the fight to the people in the hills who have not only taken the lives of their loved ones, but They have also kidnapped Doug and Lynnes’s baby.

The final act of “The Hills Have Eyes” is outstanding for its frenetic pace and overall intensity. It has plenty of suspense, incredible fight scenes, lots of blood, gore, limb loss and carnage, and we get to fully see Hill’s fans, of which there are more than first thought. You’d be surprised to know that, in addition to Aaron Standford, who gives an incredible performance as Doug, one of the Carter family dogs plays the final act of the film very well and at the screening I attended he was definitely a favorite. of the public. I’m not sure which dog it was because both Beauty and the Beast were the same breed, but whichever it was, he… along with an unexpected ally, no doubt did his part to help combat the villains of the movie. “The Hills Have Eyes,” while slow in some early areas, does an excellent job of building suspense and containing all the elements a true horror movie should have. Backing all that up with above-average performances, a substantial amount of blood and gore, and a very strong ’80s horror feel, it ranks right up there with Wes Craven’s original.

Advantage:

Good performances, especially from Aaron Stanford, although the trailers will have you believe that Emilie De Ravin is the star of this movie, Stanford is the one who is involved in more scenes than anyone. The elements of gore, gore and horror were very present, which is always a plus. I also have to love that heroic dog who saved Doug’s ass more than once. The vacant desert and empty small town sets also worked to build a lot of suspense throughout the film. Hill’s people as villains in the movie were really good.

Cons:

I felt that Emilie De Ravin should have had a few more scenes than she did. Other than that nothing important.

General:

A worthy remake, and a fun time at the movies. It is definitely worth the price of admission.