Review of The Hills Have Eyes (2006) by Ilyaas H — 21 Jun 2011

This movie is a remake that totally works and also one of the greatest hororr remakes in a long time. The title sequence is disturbing, some of the scenes are really exciting and intense and also scary, the acting performances are convincing and brilliant. The most shocking and relentless horror film i've seen in a long time. Snobs may balk, purists will be appalled, but this new and exceedingly nasty version of Wes Craven's 1977 cult shocker is awfully good at what it does. And mostly what it does is make you feel awful. When Aja really starts in on the brutal slayings, he spares no one any comfort at all. Even as he reinvents, Aja invents. He's clearly working on a big budget for his first American film and has been told he can do anything he can think of. Visually, the movie is wildly alive, full of sure touches. This remake of the 1977 Wes Craven cult classic is brutally horrific. And that's a compliment.

VERDICT: "Full Price" - My second highest rating (Positive to Mixed reaction). This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent..