The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Sure, I could get all insightful and ramble on about the social comments Wes Craven was making here, what with the “civilized” family versus the “barbaric” family, but I’m just going to state this one in simple, Horror Apocalypse wordage. This puppy is a pure ass kicker through and through, and one of the best examples of low budget horror done right. Craven’s tale of the average American family running afoul of cannibals in the desert certainly contains it's share of social commentary if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s also this very element that helps set it apart from the majority of the horror films playing the drive-in circuit of the era. There’s some depth here to all the insanity and bloodshed, and boy is that rare. But hey, this ain’t Psych/Sociology 101, so let’s get down to business here shall we?

A family from Cleveland heads out to the Nevada desert in search of a supposed silver mine they have inherited. They unwittingly stray off the main road and run afoul of a family of murderous cannibals who make a respectable living by slaughtering and eating any dipshit that comes into their territory. Simple huh? Once you hear that ominous synthesizer rumble over the soundtrack as the family station wagon slides off the road, you get the feeling it’s gonna be one hell of a rough ride.

From the tension laden “camper-invasion” scene, to the proposed baby killing and back again, this one never lets up. “Hills” broke a lot of boundaries in terms of killing off characters that typically don’t die, etc. This one plays by no one’s rules, and it’s easy to see how after “Last House on the Left” and “Hills” why Craven was considered to be a “renegade” filmmaker. The acting is way above what you would typically get with a film of this budget, and that goes for both the cannibal and civilized clans. I’m not talking Oscars or anything, but everyone does a good job and conveys their characters well. The violence here is brutal and of the “in your face” variety, take a look at Papa Jupiter’s murder of old Fred and you’ll get my point. It’s fairly easy to see why Craven and Co. were awarded an “X” when the film was first submitted to the ratings board. “Hills” however, is about much more than exploitation styled violence as I stated above. The idea of the “civilized” clan turning into the savages as things come down to pure survival gives this baby some meat to chew on to go along with all of the intensity and insanity. Highly recommended, and for all you travelers out there...be sure to stay on the main road, would ya?