Blog Monster Movie Review: The Hills Have Eyes

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Starring: Michael Berryman, Susan Lanier, Dee Wallace, and Robert Houston
Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Wes Craven
Produced by: Blood Relations Co.

Ah, vacation. Surely there’s nothing better than going on vacation, getting away from the humdrum of everyday life. But then vacations can have some unexpected troubles, particularly in the trip to the peaceful vacation spot. The long drive, annoying relatives, the uncertain directions, strange locals, and…cannibals?

The Carters are on vacation and Big Bob and Ethel want to check out a silver mine in the desert. It is, after all, there silver anniversary. Unfortunately, their RV breaks down. They are standed in an area that they will soon learn is overrun with cannibals. Naturally, things get eerie as Big Bob never returns from trying to find help and one of the family’s dogs disappears. Then the locals let the Carters know they are there, and chaos ensues. Everything gets turned on its head after the cannibals steal an infant.

I went into this movie expecting something akin to Last House on the Left with how it was described as disturbing, and maybe that self-derived comparison made the movie seem mild, but I couldn’t quite see where all the hype was coming from. This is not to say that it was a bad film. It was very good. Craven created an intense atmosphere, using the setting to its maximum effect by accentuating the isolated and helpless feelings that being stranded in a strange place can create without cannibals, but then cranking it up a notch with the cannibals. The performances were decent. Susan Lanier and Dee Wallace were attractive and a pleasure to watch even without the usual nudity you would expect. Robert Houston does a good job as the son left in charge while dad (Russ Grieve) and brother-in-law (Martin Speer) are trying to find help. He’s uncertain and scared, but is doing as best he can to be strong and brave for his sisters and mother.

I enjoyed the film, although I don’t see from where the mystique surrounding the film comes.