The Hills Have Eyes
The Hills Have Eyes

The Hills Have Eyes

1977Movie90 minEnglish

Taking an ill-advised detour en-route to California, the Carter family soon run into trouble when their RV breaks down in the middle of the desert. Stranded, they find themselves at the mercy of monstrous cannibals lurking in the surrounding hills.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes69%
Google Users74%
Director: Wes CravenGenres: Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

A suburban family traveling through the Nevada desert becomes stranded after their car breaks down. They soon discover they are not alone, as a mutated family of cannibals, survivors of nuclear testing in the area, begins to stalk and terrorize them. The Carters must fight for their survival against the savage inhabitants of the wasteland.

Critical Reception

Wes Craven's "The Hills Have Eyes" is considered a cult classic of low-budget horror cinema. While often criticized for its graphic violence and bleak tone, it has garnered a reputation for its visceral scares and its exploration of primal fears and societal decay. It's praised by fans for its raw, unpretentious approach to the horror genre and its memorable, disturbing antagonists.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its relentless tension and unsettling atmosphere.
  • Often cited for its graphic and disturbing depiction of violence.
  • Regarded as a pioneering work in the 'backwoods horror' subgenre.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciate the film for its raw, no-holds-barred horror and its effectiveness in creating a sense of dread. Many find the mutated family characters to be truly terrifying and memorable. Some note that while the production quality is low, the film's disturbing themes and visceral scares make it a worthwhile watch for genre enthusiasts.

Fun Fact

The distinctive, disturbing look of the "Cousins" was achieved through makeup effects by legendary special effects artist Craig Reardon, who also served as a production assistant and even briefly appeared as one of the mutants.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_An Ohio family vs a clan of cannibals in the Southwest desert_** Wes Craven developed this after the deserved success of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” with further inspiration stemming from the 16th century ‘Sawney’ Bean legend of Gal...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Despite being warned by a cranky old garage owner to stay on the highway, know-it-all "Big Bob Carter" (Russ Grieve) decides to take his family on a dirt track so they can try to find an old silver mine. The road is barely designed for a do...
JPV852

JPV852

This is one I could've sworn I had seen before and while I think I remembered a few scenes, the rest was a blank. In any case, I thought it was okay for a independent horror film with characters that at least weren't obnoxious. It's nothing...
Gimly

Gimly

Though the case of _The Hills Have Eyes_ is a rare one wherein I feel that the remake is in its entirety a better film than the original, Wes Craven's 1977 exploitation horror is still a solid movie, just one that doesn't succeed in its tot...
John Chard

John Chard

You folks. Stay on the main road now you hear! After having announced himself to the horror hordes with The Last House on the Left, Craven's next horror pick would be this, The Hills Have Eyes, another slab of grit and grime. A nucle...