O v. R: The Hills Have Eyes

Original v. Remake: The Hills Have Eyes

by Eli Henry

  'The Hills Have Eyes' opens on a family on their way to California, who decide to take a detour through New Mexico, and come face-to-face with cannibalistic monsters.

  The original 'The Hills Have Eyes' (Wes Craven's)  was a gruesome and shockingly original horror film, much in line with 'The Last House On the Left' (also Wes Craven's). The remake took the original, brought it to the present day, enhanced the realism, and upped the horror. 

  The remake of HHE is a perfect example of what a remake should be. It is almost line-by-line the same as the original, script-wise, and the actors and actresses look like their counterparts in the original movie, however, it adds or changes things that needed to be, so that the film could be believable (or, frankly, better). The remake becomes what the original had been aiming for. And I do believe the remake of HHE is superior to the original. 

  The original HHE is a classic, and deserves recognition for originality, but the remake of HHE is definitely the better film, and the realization of how great the story can get, and be adapted. The remake of HHE has great practical effects (a featurette on the unrated DVD shows all of the make-up being created and applied, along with smaller things, such as how the screwdriver-stab effect was created, and how gunshot effects were created), and, as I mentioned before, a believable story, along with great acting from everyone involved. It's a real shame that the cast (for the most part) hasn't really done much else in the film world. 

  The remake... WINS.

  Next on O v. R: John Carpenter's Halloween v. Rob Zombie's Halloween