Horror and remake seem to be two words that get closer together as time goes by. Sadly, this is yet another remake in the horror genre of Wes Craven's 1977 original. I'm not saying remakes are always going to turn out poor, because there have been some successful ones, but the point that should get across is that horror films need originality. Any viewer, I believe would choose a completely original feature over a thirty year old film remade for the 21st century. Hollywood might never get the point as long as its number one at the box office.
The Hills Have Eyes is the type of film that starts off like a typical 70's campy horror film. You've got the entire family heading out for vacation, in their car of course. The father notices that they are low in fuel, so they find a gasoline station, and a completely trashed and dirty one it is. I also have to mention, its apparently the only one within fifty miles. They drive away with a full tank, only to have their car run over spikes and break down completely. This is where the, what do we do now scenario comes in. A typical horror beginning which becomes tiresome the more and more you see it.
This family does what any family would do, find some help. Here is where the killing commences and where the scary tactics are supposed to appear. One of the major things this film has trouble doing is actually scaring the viewer, instead we are disgusted. There is no creepy atmosphere in Hills Have Eyes and the film won't have you biting your nails. However, what this film does have is a way of disgusting you and being graphic. Sure, this might make you jump a couple of times, but that would mainly be because of the added sound, not of whats happening.
The Hills Have Eyes tries to prepare a story about the killers, but it never gets off level one. The audience does not receive a background on these psychos, they merely get the basics. They take revenge on humans for the nuclear bombings that occurred in the 60's that left them disfigured. This film ignores the chance at making an interesting story out of Hills Have Eyes because it has gore and violence as the main attraction. The fault at hand is writer and director Alexandre Aja.
Alexandre Aja directed last years High Tension and the similarities can be seen as far as direction for both films. Aja's problem with Hills Have Eyes is the fact that there are plot holes. The set up for the film had many opportunities to be intriguing and creepy, but instead its uninteresting. For the audience to place themselves in the scared zone, they must be led to it, not surprise them in the final scenes. Even with the flaws the script faces, there is still some involvement with Hills Have Eyes and the viewer.
The cast includes very average actors. Aaron Stanford plays Doug Bukowski, Kathleen Quinlan plays Ethel Carter, Emilie de Ravin plays Brenda Carter and Dan Byrd plays Bobby Carter. These are only few names of the cast that garners average acting at best. These characters are supposed to be terrified and willing to do what it takes to get revenge, but there emotions come in effect late, not believable.
The Hills Have Eyes is not a complete waste, although it does contain a lot of flaws. For the horror genre, this actually places higher than those downright bad storyless trashy films. What will be experienced in this film is gore and violence, but don't be surprised if you get into it cheering for the humans. Thats just it though, its a good versus bad, in the perspective you look at it. However, leaving many thing unexplained and starting the terror very late, makes the overall experience less effective in The Hills Have Eyes.
