| Overall Grade: |
B |
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| Story: |
C+ |
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| Acting: |
B |
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| Direction: |
B+ |
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| Visuals: |
B |
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They're Watching You- You Should Watch Them!
by DONNA (movies profile)
Nov 19, 2006
6
of
7 people found this review helpful
THE STORY:
When the Carters, a well meaning all American family, enters a desolated desert on their way to a silver mine left to them by a relative in California, they decide to drive thought a deserted and empty road for a shortcut. Soon trouble starts though after they are warned by a gas station attendant NOT to travel down that road and to turn back and they then crash their car. The family then decides to send members out in different directions looking for help, but when certain family members start to not come back, they get worried. That's when the terror starts for the Carter family as the realize that they are not alone, and that a maniac cannibalistic family of society's outcasts lives in the desert and wants the Carters for dinner!
MY OPINION:
It's not Wes Craven's best horror movie, but its not his worst. With a few jumps and thrills, and some tense moments, this movie is entertaining however not wonderful. Some people may claim it to be just another rip off of earlier films of the 70's such as the infamous "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" or even Wes Craven's earlier film "Last House on the Left", but unlike those two films that are truely disturbing and even sickening, "The Hills Have Eyes" is just a movie that has no deep disturbance but delivers a good, horrifying, gory time. The premise is somewhat scary, but once you see the villians you'll think that you're watching a "Mad Max" type film due to the villians being dressed in animal skins and having Indian like necklaces while also wearing modern day boots and metal clothing. The film's characters are sometimes laughable, but the most annoying of the characters get murdered first until the actual main characters are left.
Out of the cast, Michael Berryman is the most outstanding as the murderous Pluto- a dog hating, bald, deformed family member of the villians who walks around in a fur vest while showing off his bulk abs. This movie made Michael Berryman into a cult superstar, and deservidly so. Out of all the villians, Pluto is by far the most memorable and most terrifying. Every time he comes onto the screen you grip your firsts and take a breath for safety. Although the character of Pluto has never reached pop-culture phenominon like Jason, Michael, Freddy, or Leatherface of other series, Pluto could easily be the next big horror hit if a successful "Hills" remake were to come along and Berryman were to return as Pluto. I myself couldn't picture anyone else in the part. Susan Lanier and Robert Huston play the heroic siblings of the story that go through rape, murder, massacre, and even show a range of emotion. Unlike modern day horror films, Craven has the actors show their emotions after a dreadful event, and shows that their emotions can either make or break their survival. Dee Wallace also stars as their older sister who has a baby with her husband Doug (Martin Speer). Janice Blythe also stars as Ruby, a daughter of cannibals who is caught between helping the Carters escape and staying loyal to her twisted family. Aside from the stars of the film, the two elder actors are excellent. They are John Steadman as Fred the gas station attnedant and James Whitworth as Papa Jupiter, the leader of the cannibalistic family. Sadly, Steadman died and isn't able to be here today and Whitworth's location is unknown, with the cast loosing touch.
The age of "The Hills Have Eyes" made the best thing about it. Like "Halloween" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "The Hills Have Eyes" has been able to scare audience no matter what generation or what time period. Yes, it has lost some chilling aspects however it still remains completely great in others. The fact that the movie is almost 30 years old makes it stand as a classic. It is a movie that people from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and now can connect to. "The Hills Have Eyes" remains a cult classic. It has been followed by one sequel, "The Hills Have Eyes Part 2" and there is even talk of a possible remake coming along soon being produced by original director Wes Craven. Here's hoping!
THE DVD:
The one and only DVD for "The Hills Have Eyes" is the Anchor Bay 2 disk special edition release. It is a great release for this movie. With great restored picture and sound quality, plus the films actually being uncut is an upside. The second disk has a 45 minute "Looking Back on the Hills Have Eyes" Documentary with interviews by Wes Craven, Susan Lanier, Michael Berryman, and more! Also included is an episode of the cable series "The Directors"- a tribute to Wes Craven and his career. Still Galleries, Storyboards, Posters, Trailers, and even an Alternate Ending make up the rest of the DVD. There is also a DVD-ROM link to screenplays and screensavers.
OVERALL:
Horror buffs and 70's road flick fans will all come together and agree that these are the hills you should be watching. |
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