The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Craven's Best, 18 April 2005

A fairly typical family is traveling through the desert when their car runs off the road and breaks an axle. They find themselves stranded in an isolated, hot, and dry area near some rock-strewn, menacing looking hills. As it would happen, the hills are home to an equally menacing looking band of cannibals. The family must endure a night from hell as they fight to stay alive. Will they all make it?

This is easily my favorite horror movies that Wes Craven has made. It's much more enjoyable as an entertainment vehicle than his previous work, The Last House on the Left (I will never understand how anyone say that they find The Last House on the Left quality entertainment), but it's not as safe as the family-friendly, quote-ready horror he would later make. I often use the same adjectives to describe The Hills Have Eyes that I use when describing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - raw, savage, brutal, and unrelenting. The people in the hills don't think or act like you and I. They're quite capable of anything and prove that throughout the night with their attacks on the family. Rape, murder, and kidnap are all they know and the only way they know to survive. You get the feeling throughout the movie that anyone could die.

I'll admit that some of the acting is less than good. Virginia Vincent plays the stranded mother and delivers some lines in the most unintentionally hysterical manner. On the other end of the spectrum is Susan Lanier. Her portrayal of the frightened Brenda Carter is very realistic and adds a degree of authenticity to the film. I've often compared her performance to that of Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Portraying a frightened character with all of the screaming involved cannot be an easy thing to do.

The Hills Have Eyes explores some of the same themes that Craven covered in The Last House on the Left. That is, who are the civilized and who are the savages? How much and how long does it take for a normal person to be reduced the same level as their attackers? It's an interesting idea that would require a better understanding of psychology than I have.

The Region 1 DVD from Anchor Bay is a must have for any fan of this movie. Having seen The Hills Have Eyes repeatedly at midnight movies in the early 80s, I didn't think the movie could look this good. It's not perfect, but it is so superior to any other transfer I've seen. The DVD is loaded with features, including a very informative commentary from Craven and the producer, Peter Locke, and a "making of" documentary that runs almost one hour. It's one of the best SEs that I own.

8/10