Vicious and unforgiving, those two words are what best describe the remake of The Hills Have Eyes. Alexandra Aja has crafted what just might be the perfect horror film. How in the hell can you make miles and miles of open desert seem claustrophobic? I dont know but Aja does it and very well.
The DVD comes out on June 20th and trust me on this one; you want to own a copy.
I came from the generation that got to enjoy the original in its first theatrical run and at that time it was considered the most intense thing ever put on film, well Aja has certainly kicked things up a few notches. You all should remember Aja from High Tension arguably one of the best horror film of the last few years. He brought the same viciousness and wonderful visual styling to this film.
Shot off of Wes Cravens original script from back in the 70s with some new elements added by Aja The Hills Have Eyes tells the tale of a family from Ohio who are traveling cross country and while crossing through the desert southwest come across a band of mutants who kind of ruin their day. While attempting a short cut down a back road the mutants strike and the sick twisted fun begins.
The special effects in this film are a perfect blend of physical and CGI gags. Aja, KNB and the rest of the gang have seemed to find a real nice mix and used the real stuff as much as possible and stuck in the CGI only when needed and only when it enhances the action on screen. The mutant prosthetics are amazing. Pluto, who was of course played by the awesome Michael Berryman in the original is represented in the remake but the stand out mutant for me is a tie between one called Big Brain and another called Lizard played by the excellent Robert Joy (you should remember him from Land of the Dead). Both are worthy of fan praise.
This really reminds me of the type of films that Romero and Savini made at the height of their career together. Pushing the envelope and trying things that had never been seen on film before. Aja loves the genre and it shows on every frame of film that he produces. For a sophomore effort this film is senior thesis material. It is exciting to think that Aja is just getting his legs beneath him and I think we are going to see great great things from this man.
The DVD itself is a great little package. Special features include:
-Audio commentary with Director Alexandre Aja, co-screenwriter Gregory Levassuer, and producer Marianne Maddalena
-Audio commentary with producers Peter Locke and Wes Craven
-Surviving the Hills making-of featurette (NEARLY AN HOUR LONG)
-Production Diaries (11 minutes)
-Fox Movie Channel: Casting Session
-Music Video
-Trailer (Behind Enemy Lines 2)
The Surviving the Hills featurette is great. These things can get a little long winded at times but this one is interesting and entertaining. The enthusiasm of Aja is infectious and it is lots of fun to watch him work.
Trust me on this one, pick it up. It is the future of horror film making.
