The hills don’t just have eyes, they have knives, axes and guns in this grisly re-make of Wes Craven’s Seventies horror shocker. Fright fans will be overjoyed at this revamp which throws bucketloads more blood at the classic tale of terror in the desert. The nice, middle-class Carter family are cruising through the Nevada desert to San Diego in their 1988 Airstream trailer. It’s the perfect American dream scenario as they travel down the highway, enjoying the sights - you just know something horrid’s going to happen. And it does, big time. Their trip takes a turn for the worse after they stop for fuel and a weird pump attendant suggests a shortcut through the desert. And what do you know, they take his advice. Doh! Inevitably, it’s not long before they run into difficulty and blow a tyre. And of course they gradually start to realise that’s the least of their problems.
Before they can blink, they’re pitted against a gaggle of mishappen hill people who live too close to a nuclear testing ground. The ugly stick has given these guys a damn good thrashing. Bit like watching auditions for reality TV programs - except the hillbillies come armed and gagging for some fresh blood as they stalk their helpless victims. The pun on nuclear families is obvious and an unnecessary addition to Craven’s original - and just in case we didn’t get it first time, their dogs are called Beauty and Beast.
Even though we all know what’s going to happen next, the tension builds to bursting point. And things soon become dangerous as the mutants invade the trailer in a 15-minute onslaught including the horrific rape of teen beauty Brenda - Lost’s new mum castaway Emilie De Ravin. Director Alexandre Aja shamelessly uses the kidnap of one of our heroes to stir audiences emotions and motivate the youngsters to take revenge. Soon, our previously hapless victims are turning the tables in a blood-soaked climax with more violence than a night out in Northampton.
Some scare tactics are as old as the hills but if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned horror movie, it’s perfect for a Friday-night fright.