The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

October 31, 2022 1:30 PM

On the way to California, a family has the misfortune to have their car break down in an area closed to the public, and inhabited by violent savages ready to attack.

Written & directed by Wes Craven.

Starring: Martin Speer, Russ Grieve, John Steadman, James Whitworth, Virginia Vincent, Michael Berryman, Janus Blythe, Lance Gordon, Cordy Clark, Peter Locke, Robert Houston, Dee Wallace, Suze Lanier-Bramlett.

67% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on at least eight services. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (7 comments total)

A friend of mine used to work at Tower Video after Scream came out. People would come in and rent this and Last House on the Left because it was Wes Craven not expecting what they got.
posted by miss-lapin at 4:28 PM on October 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

Craven really redefined horror three times in three decades.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:51 AM on November 1, 2022 [1 favorite]

I don't like this movie, but appreciated it more after I watched the remake.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:27 AM on November 1, 2022

I’ve seen Michael Berryman interviewed a few times, and he always seems like a really smart, together, and interesting person.
posted by holborne at 7:20 PM on November 1, 2022 [3 favorites]

I watched this again and found it just awful, like Baby's First Feature Film. The amount Craven did not know about lighting and composition yet was ... substantial.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:55 AM on June 8

I wouldn't say there was nothing I liked about it this time, but it didn't age well and Craven was way less polished and interesting at this point. I was let down.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:03 AM on June 8

Maybe it's a movie that just works far better on VHS and a 13" tube TV than Blu Ray and a flat screen.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:07 AM on June 8