| Plot:An updated version of Wes Craven's 1977 film of | | | | anyway. The radioactive effects caused severe |
| the same name,"The Hills Have Eyes" is the story of a | | | | deformities to all human life within the area, and when |
| family road trip that goes terrifyingly awry when the | | | | you mix years of festering anger over the matter, plus |
| travelers become stranded in a government atomic | | | | horrid deformities, you've got very fertile land for |
| zone. Miles from nowhere, the Carters soon realize the | | | | violent, anti social behavior. Once the Carter's become |
| seemingly uninhabited wasteland is actually the | | | | stranded in this desolate wasteland...most of the |
| breeding ground of a blood-thirsty mutant family...and | | | | scenes that follow are spent with their son Bobby |
| they are the prey.Cast: Ezra Buzzington, Aaron | | | | chasing down their two german shepards "Beauty" |
| Stanford, Emilie de Ravin, Kathleen Quinlan, Ted Levine, | | | | and "Beast" who continually escape from the car and |
| Vinessa Shaw, Dan Byrd, Robert Joy.My | | | | go running off into the hills, with one of the dogs having |
| Thoughts:Gritty and realistic just like the | | | | the unfortunate luck of crossing paths with one of the |
| original.Review:"The Hills Have Eyes" is a remake of | | | | Hill people. Why someone would bring two adult dogs |
| Wes Cravens original 1977 movie where a road | | | | that size with them on family vacation I'll never know. |
| tripping family winds up stranded in a government | | | | Bob the dad, and Doug decide to go seek out help for |
| atomic zone, which is inhabited by a very nasty mutant | | | | their dire situation, which is where the film begins it's |
| family. The 2006 remake really captures the spirit of | | | | descent into madness as the Hill people seize this |
| the original and in a way is way more twisted also. | | | | opportunity to attack the remaining members of the |
| This film revolves around the Carter family Brenda, | | | | family.Obviously...albeit deformed and borderline |
| Bob, Bobby, Ethel, their oldest daughter Lynne, her | | | | retarded...the Hill folk understand that these |
| husband Doug, and their baby daughter. Prior to | | | | suburbanites...like in the case of most families, are at |
| introducing us to the Carter's, the beginning of the | | | | their most vulnerable when the two adult males of the |
| movie quickly laments the idea that the Hills do have | | | | group are gone. The trailer attack scene is the highlight |
| eyes when 3 CDC agents are made short work of by | | | | of the movie as alot of shocking events unfold during |
| someone weilding a pick axe. It's a very entertaining | | | | which include the loss of three main characters, and a |
| and gory scene which sets the mood and tone of the | | | | very disturbing rape scene. Wes Craven and Alex Aja |
| movie nicely, before the opening credits roll. The | | | | who wrote the script for "The Hills Have Eyes" really |
| Carter's are driving to San Diego for a good old | | | | didn't slink off on the graphic nature of the movie, |
| fashioned family vacation.Now before the rationalists | | | | staying true to the original. The deaths even though |
| step in and say huh? Doug brings up the million dollar | | | | there aren't very many, still carry a very big impact |
| question early in the film, of why couldn't they have just | | | | because of how the scenes are set up and written to |
| "flown" like normal people? As if trekking through the | | | | take place. Craven and Aja also do a great job with |
| desert heat wasn't bad enough, the trailer they're pulling | | | | the revenge angle of the story, as those who |
| behind them has a busted air conditioner much to | | | | managed to survive the trailer attack, decide to take |
| Doug's dismay. The early impression of the Carter | | | | the fight to the people in the Hills who have not only |
| family is your typical american red state american | | | | taken the lives of their loved ones, but also have |
| family. While Doug comes off as more of the liberal | | | | kidnapped Doug and Lynnes baby.The final act of |
| democrat type, despite being married to their oldest | | | | "The Hills Have Eyes" is outstanding in it's franetic |
| daughter.This culture clash is set up nicely and works | | | | pace, and overall intensity. It carries alot of suspense, |
| to enhance the films early dialogue which keeps the | | | | awesome fight scenes, lots of blood, gore, loss of |
| movie interesting early on. Because of their differing | | | | limbs, and carnage, and we get to fully see the Hill |
| beliefs, Bob Carter does not particularly care for | | | | freaks which there are more of than at first thought. |
| Lynne's husband Doug, and they spend alot of the | | | | You'd be surprised to know that besides Aaron |
| early moments of the movie taking snipes at each | | | | Standford who gives an awesome performance as |
| other which are sure to extract some giggles and | | | | Doug, one of the Carter family dogs carries the final |
| laughs from the viewer. Taking a page out of the | | | | act of the movie very nicely and at the screening I |
| "Wrong Turn" book, we are introduced to a desert | | | | attended was certainly a crowd favorite. I am not sure |
| yokel who may or may not be leading people into | | | | which dog it was because both Beauty and Beast |
| those "Hills". It isn't necessarily said that he's doing this, | | | | were the same breed, but whichever one it was, |
| but it is strongly hinted at and he does definitely know | | | | it...along with an unexpected ally, certainly did their fair |
| about the Hill people.After the Carters fill up the gas | | | | share of helping to battle the films villains. "The Hills |
| tank, this man hips them to a short cut which according | | | | Have Eyes" while slow in a few early areas, does an |
| to him will save them a couple hours. The Hill people | | | | excellent job of building suspense and containng all of |
| meanwhile are watching and taking yet another page | | | | the elements a true horror movie should. Backing all of |
| out of "Wrong Turn", they set up a spike trap to blow | | | | that up with above average performances, a |
| out the tires of the Carter family SUV, stranding them | | | | substantial amount of blood and gore, and boasting a |
| in the desert. Alex Aja does an excellent job building | | | | very strong 80's horror feel, it ranks right up there with |
| suspense in this movie because after the opening | | | | Wes Cravens original.Pros:Good performances |
| scene, we don't see the hill people anymore until about | | | | especially by Aaaron Stanford, even though the |
| 35 minutes into the movie. But Alex keeps us on the | | | | previews will have you believing Emilie De Ravin is the |
| edge of our seat with scenes that strongly suggest | | | | star of this movie, Stanford is the one who's involved |
| they are out there, lurking, watching, and waiting for the | | | | in more scenes than anyone else. Blood, gore, and |
| perfect time to strike. Aja also keeps the Hill folks | | | | horror elements were strongly present which is |
| hidden most of the time. The only one we really get a | | | | always a plus. Also gotta love that heroic dog which |
| full look at early in the movie is Ruby, who compared | | | | saved Doug's ass more than once. The vacant desert |
| to the rest of the Hill people looks mostly normal. The | | | | and empty smalltown settings also worked to create |
| Hill people themselves are a disturbing looking bunch, | | | | alot of suspense throughout the movie. The Hill folks |
| and the sounds they make along with their violent and | | | | as the villains of the movie were really good.Cons:I felt |
| perverse actions throughout the movie are equally | | | | Emilie De Ravin should've had a few more scenes |
| disturbing. Why are they violent and perverse?Well to | | | | than she did. Other than that nothing major.Overall:A |
| make a long story short, the government wanted to | | | | worthy remake, and a fun time at the movies. |
| test their "toys" on their land. The families refused to | | | | Definitely worth the price of admission. |
| leave, so the government tested their "toys" there | | | | |