The Hills Have Eyes (Two-Disc Edition)

The Hills Have Eyes (Two-Disc Edition)
by Wes Craven

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Movie Reviews of The Hills Have Eyes (Two-Disc Edition)

Movie Review: Cult favorite finally sees the light of day on DVD.
Summary: 5 Stars

By today's standards, "The Hills Have Eyes" is tame and less shocking visually, but in terms of theme, it still packs a mean punch. It is essentially about two families: a white collar family stranded in the desert, and a cannibalistic, nomadic family who have a taste for human flesh. One must fight off the other, and it is, according to Craven, the battle between opposite ends of the food chain, where one invariably becomes the other in order to survive. The violence is tempered somewhat from "Last House on the Left", but there are definitely some graphic moments. The story is smartly written, the dialogue is well delivered and believable. Considering the fact that this was a low-budget movie, the acting is nothing stellar. But rarely do you get that in horror films, so it is unlikely anyone will mind. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you owe it to yourself to experience it. You can see how Craven's style was being formed in these early films, and you can see how it evolved in later films like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream".

If the movie itself is not the main selling point, the DVD package is. The movie has been remastered, in widescreen, taking out most of the grain and fuzz that plagued the VHS versions. On the first disc, there is the Audio Commentary by Wes Craven and "Hills Have Eyes" producer Peter Locke. As with most Craven commentaries, it is smart, full of anecdotes and trivia, and fun to watch. I recommend listening to the commentary before watching any of the documentaries, since most of what is told in the documentaries is repeated in the commentary and thus will make it redundant. The first documentary I watched was an episode of "The Directors" and it was on the career of Wes Craven. It covers his entire career up to this date, and has interviews with many people who worked with him in the past. It is fascinating, and a story that movie buffs would love to hear. It runs 60 minutes. The second is even better, and better for this DVD because it focuses exclusively on "The Hills Have Eyes". It is called "Looking Back on The Hills Have Eyes". It consists of interviews of Craven, Peter Locke, the principle cast, and other key players. How they made this movie is just as interesting as the movie itself, so fans will definitely get a kick out of it. This one also runs for almost 60 minutes. Both documentaries are well made, and worth repeated viewings.

Being a long time Wes Craven fan, I was so happy that they finally released "The Hills Have Eyes" on DVD. Younger horror fans, or people who favor splatter and special effects, might not warm to the film due to the age and amateur qualities of the film. But for true horror fans, this is an essential addition to your collection.

Summary of The Hills Have Eyes (Two-Disc Edition)