The Hills Have Eyes (Unrated Edition)
by Alexandre Aja
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dan Byrd, Emilie de Ravin, Kathleen Quinlan, Michael Bailey Smith, Ted LevineDirector: Alexandre Aja
Brand: TCFHE
Writer: Alexandre Aja
Producer: Cody Zwieg
Producer: Frank Hildebrand
Producer: Inigo Lezzi
Producer: Marianne Maddalena
Writer: Grégory Levasseur
Writer: Wes Craven
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.1
Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 107 minutes
Published: 2006-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2006-06-20
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of The Hills Have Eyes (Unrated Edition)
Movie Review: One of the best Horror movies from the 2000's era.
Summary: 5 Stars
I wrote a review for this movie when it first came out (2006) but I didn't think it did the film any justice. Here's a better and more appropriate review for 2010.
This remake of THE HILLS HAVE EYES literally blows the original out of the water! Hands down, it's a million times better than Wes Craven's film. I've been a Horror movie fan for a very long time now and I can remember my disappointment with the Wes Craven original all those years ago in the 1980's. Much like Craven's LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, I felt his early films were over hyped at best. It wouldn't be until I watched his amazing NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET that I became a Wes Craven fan. Even after that film, his movie making career has been rather "hit or miss."
Back in 2006 when this remake was announced, I was actually kind of thrilled about it because I thought the original could be improved upon. In the mid 2000's the idea of a remake wasn't totally over done yet (like it seems to be now) and the world of Horror seemed to be making a pretty good come back. With movies like THE DEVILS REJECTS, HOSTEL, SAW, HIGH TENSION and WOLF CREEK coming out, it would seem like Horror movies and Slasher films were getting their "guts" back.
After watching THE HILLS HAVE EYES in theaters with my friends, I walked away deeply impressed! Years after watching this film multiple times on DVD, I'm still convinced it's one of the best Horror films from the 2000's era. Hands down, no questions asked. Even people who didn't normally enjoy Horror movies (maybe because of their predictability) seemed to be giving this amazing remake the attention it deserved. I can remember talking to one of my friends (who is normally hard to impress with movies in general) about THE HILLS HAVE EYES and even they found it to be shockingly good! This is the type of movie that leaves it's mark long after you've watched it.
The story itself is pretty simple and unchanged for the most part from the original film. Basically it's about a typical American family traveling across the desert for their vacation. Things get complicated for them when they decide to take an unused road as a short cut and accidentally (or so it would seem) get into a car wreck. Stuck in the middle of the desert with no communication and no other options, it would seem like the only thing to do now is to walk through the hills and find some rescue. The Father of this family group decides to walk down one road while the husband of the oldest Daughter goes down another in hope of finding some help.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family stays with the car wreck incase someone drives by the mostly unused road. As night starts to fall, strange things begin to happen. Somtimes it seems like there is someone or something watching them from the hills and strange noises are heard all around them. Eventually, one of the family dogs is found cut open and dead within one of the deep desert canyons. From this point on, the movie is kicked into high gear as mutant inbred rednecks sneak into their wreak site and begin terrorizing the helpless family members.
What makes this remake work so well is the pacing and characterization. All of the actors do a believable and sympathetic job at drawing the viewer into the story. The family itself is very real with it's own personal problems and issues, some of which I'm sure the audience could relate to. Weather it's political differences between family members or just the basic sibling rivalry, the family presented here is very realistic.
Another thing that makes this Horror film work is the use of brooding music. As the intensity rises with each scene, the music pulses away in the background like a heartbeat. It's a very "old school" Horror method, something that John Carpenter did years ago with movies like HALLOWEEN and THE THING. It's not a total throw back to the synthesizers used in the Cult movies of the past, but it's definitely a welcome addition to the already wonderful mix here. This is well done modern day film making at it's best. I've said it before and I'll say it again, music can literally make a movie.
Gore wise, this movie doesn't miss a beat. The blood shed here is on the same level as the Tom Savini days of Horror. In other words it uses the classic blood and latex of the past, while using very little CGI in the mix. It's the perfect balance if you ask me. THE HILLS HAVE EYES isn't afraid to splatter around the gore and even make some of the main characters suffer in the process. Fingers are cut off, throats are ripped out and pick axes are used in all their gory glory! The rape scene in this movie isn't over done (although shocking as it is) and the revenge aspect is well balanced by the end of the movie. Gore Hounds, without a doubt, check it out if you haven't done so already! This is how a modern day Horror movie should be made!
In the end, Alexandre Aja has made a near perfect Horror movie here. He's done a rare thing where the remake is actually a million times better than the original. After watching HIGH TENSION and THE HILLS HAVE EYES, I have come to the conclusion that he knows what he's doing as a Horror movie director. Even his lesser efforts like MIRRORS seemingly has a special craft to it. He's just a good Horror movie director.
Some people might just consider THE HILLS HAVE EYES as another gruesome Horror film in the long line of modern day remakes and bad sequels. If that's the case for some people, then I would have to say they're missing the point here. Those are the jaded Horror fans who can't get into anything unless it's directly from the 1970's or the 1980's. To those people I would have to say your missing out.
THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake is still the "best of the best" because it came out during a time when Horror movies were gaining ground again. It was a time period before all the sloppy remakes (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and PROM NIGHT, I'm looking at you) and terrible "torture" Horror movie clones were coming out. THE HILLS HAVE EYES was a testimony to the ideas and originality of the next wave (or "new wave") of the 2000's Horror movie scene. In other words, it gets down to the basics and a return to form if you will. If anyone watches just one Horror film from this time period, let it be THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake. After all these years since it was released in 2006, I still think it's the best from that era.
Horror fans in general, check it out. You won't be disappointed.
I've said my bit.
Over and out.
Summary of The Hills Have Eyes (Unrated Edition)
THE STORY OF A FAMILY ROAD TRIP THAT GOES TERRIFYING AWRY WHENTHE TRAVELERS BECOME STRANDED IN A GOVERNMENT ATOMIC ZONE.MILES FROM NOWHERE, THE CARTER FAMILY SOON REALIZES THE SEEMINGLY UNINHABITED WASTELAND IS ACTUALLY THE BREEDING GROUND OF A BLOOD-THIRSTY MUTANT FAMILY...& THEY ARE THE PREY!Similar DVD Movies
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