Stanko's Stance

Director: Alexandre Aja
Writers: Wes Craven, Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur
Staring: Ted Levine, Aaron Stanford, Dan Byrd
Release Date: March 10, 2006
Streaming: HBO MAX

The Hills Have Eyes is the first horror movie I ever saw in theaters. I went in 2006 when it came out, as not a fan horror movies at all, and stomached through it. Also to Mrs. Mirabito who took the trio of us to see this and sat in the theater during it…I really hope that it was made up for you.

• I am so confused by there was so much Americana symbolism in this movie. When Doug (Aaron Stanford) goes all mutant-killer in the abandoned town, it is just unrelentingly patriotic for a reason I’m not sure of.
• Having seen the original and comparing it to this, I actually don’t hate some of the additions they made to the story. The old nuclear town and and the mining shafts…not terrible.
• The Hills Have Eyes is really hard to watch for one 15 minutes stretch. It is not terror, but rather immense dread. When the mutants attack that family for the first time in their trailers, it is incredibly tough to stomach. This is the type of movie you would NEVER EVER recommend to someone even if they are iffy on horror movies.
• Hand on my heart, I rated The Hills Have Eyes the exact same base of my initial viewing.

STANKO RATING: B- (2.5/5 Stars)

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