The Hills Have Eyes (Review)
United States/1977
Format Viewed For Review: Amazon Prime
Netflix Streaming: No
Amazon Prime: No
"...an exhilarating sensation that is only amplified through the
sense of isolation and helplessness."
A
family traveling to California find themselves stranded in a Nevada
desert and stalked by a family of cannibals in the hills...
The
Hills Have Eyes is a straight-forward horror film. The film follows the
Carter family as they travel to Nevada; this extended family includes
parents Bob and Ethel, siblings Bobby and Brenda, the eldest daughter,
Lynne, Lynne's husband, Doug, the couple's baby, Katy, and their two
dogs. Okay, it's a fairly large family, but nothing complex. Anyway,
this family head out into the desert looking for a silver mine, despite
being warned of the dangers – obviously. Their car breaks down, so Bob
and Doug head out to find help. Eventually, the family is attacked and
the fight for survival begins. From there, the momentum shifts from
slow-burn to edge-of-your-seat thriller. I'm not sure how I feel about
the actual ending, though. It's not bad, really, but it is very abrupt. I
was sitting there, hooked and ready for more, then it just sort of ends
out of nowhere – no closure or anything. I suppose it didn't have
anything else to say.
The Hills Have Eyes is a great horror
film. I loved the foreboding ambiance of the movie. From beginning to
end, the trepidation is evident. You can feel the dread looming around
every corner – something's going to happen and you have to wait until it
hits. It's an exhilarating sensation that is only amplified through the
sense of isolation and helplessness. The suspense continues to
build-up, too. Every scene is meticulously crafted to maximize the
tension. This is not the most violent film I've ever watched, not by a
long shot. However, the depictions of murder are brutal and raw. Thanks
to some excellent execution, there is no need to be gratuitous. This is,
of course, a horror film, so expect a handful of plot contrivances.
Brenda, in particular, is one those 'convenient' characters who
conveniently messes things up for the sake of the plot – she foolishly
releases the dogs in two different scenes! Hold the leash tighter,
Brenda!
The acting is mostly good. It can occasionally lean
towards bad, but that's mostly due to some very cheesy dialogue. It
occasionally has that bad 70s/80s acting. Susan Lanier, who plays
Brenda, was decent, but her constant crying during the latter half of
the film was obnoxious. I thought she nailed the traumatized character
initially, but she quickly over-did it. Otherwise, the film is fairly
standard. I don't believe I watched an HD print of this film. (I
streamed it on Amazon through a Shudder subscription.) The film did not
look crisp or remastered like some other classic horror films. Writer and director Wes Craven masterfully crafts a suspenseful
tale of terror. There are a few holes in the writing, but the direction
is superb in creating dread and tension.
Overall, The Hills
Have Eyes is a great film. It's not perfect, but it truly is frightening
and exciting. It packs a strong punch and constantly delivers in the
horror department. Although not quite up there with The Texas Chainsaw
or Black Christmas, I consider The Hills Have Eyes a classic horror
film. It's certainly better than the sequel.
Score: 8/10
Parental Guide: Strong violence and blood, some sex.
No comments:
Post a Comment