The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Not usually a big fan of re-makes. In fact, I'm usually the snob who complains that the latest MTV-ized Hollywood teen version wasn't as good as the original. In the case of The Hills Have Eyes, I didn't see the original, in fact, the only thing I know about it is that it was the first movie to have the bad-guy's first-person POV. I have a hard time thinking it was as good or as intensely ugly as this one.
No, it's not an "enjoyable" movie, and if you aren't used to real onscreen violence, THHE will stick with you for days. It's considerably more ugly than Se7en or Saw. Take it from somebody who saw both of those. This however is as smart as each of those were. Alexander Aja did a fine job making a movie that was hard to watch without being flashy with it.
I'm not sure if the original had the same America-and-its-enemies subtext, don't see what the parallel would have been at that point. For those who have seen the remake: Note that the Republican is the one who gets them in trouble. Actually it's all the dogs's fault, but the Republican is the one who gets suckered in. The Democrat saves the day and the Christian gets eliminated early on.
Technorati Tags: The, Hills, Have, Eyes, Horror, America, Terrorism, American, movie, movies, films, film, cinema, Wes, Craven,
Sunday, March 12, 2006
The Hills Have Eyes Is Really About Terrorism
There is a sequence in The Hills Have Eyes wherein somebody gets stabbed through the back with an American flag. One of the bad guys. One of the products of US government nuclear experiments in the New Mexico desert the early 60's. This happens in a model-home, at a table of mannequins representing the American Family. The theme of America vs the enemies it has created is constantly rammed down the throats of the audience. The fact that the family travelling through the NM desert being politically mixed is also not accidental. The savagery of the enemies, the totally different value-systems, the softness of the victims. It's all a commentary, but if you have seen the movie you probably don't need to be told that.
America gets attacked and brutalized, and it's needs to toughen up and become more ruthless than it's enemies. It needs to do what needs to be done to survive. And, it will never stop having enemies.
Technorati Tags: The, Hills, Have, Eyes, Horror, America, Terrorism, American, movie, movies, films, film, cinema, Wes, Craven,
There is a sequence in The Hills Have Eyes wherein somebody gets stabbed through the back with an American flag. One of the bad guys. One of the products of US government nuclear experiments in the New Mexico desert the early 60's. This happens in a model-home, at a table of mannequins representing the American Family. The theme of America vs the enemies it has created is constantly rammed down the throats of the audience. The fact that the family travelling through the NM desert being politically mixed is also not accidental. The savagery of the enemies, the totally different value-systems, the softness of the victims. It's all a commentary, but if you have seen the movie you probably don't need to be told that.
America gets attacked and brutalized, and it's needs to toughen up and become more ruthless than it's enemies. It needs to do what needs to be done to survive. And, it will never stop having enemies.
Technorati Tags: The, Hills, Have, Eyes, Horror, America, Terrorism, American, movie, movies, films, film, cinema, Wes, Craven,
The Hills Have Eyes
It's been a while since I saw a real horror movie at a theater. Am still somewhat traumatized. keep in mind that the last thing I saw like The Hills Have Eyes was Saw 2, and that wasn't even meant to be scary.
Summary:
Family on a road trip is terrorized by disfigured savages (mutated products of government nuclear tests) in the New Mexico desert.
In one graphic five-minute sequence, there is a likable man burned alive, a young girl raped, and the young mother of a baby shot. Oh, and I left a killing out so you don't think I want to spoil it entirely for you.
This is, for me, a real horror movie. It's brutal, and bloody, and merciless. It's also hopeless and dark if you take it literally. If you don't, it's a cautionary tale about America, it's past and it's future. It's still dark when you see the obvious (hammered-home) metaphor. I didn't like it, but then I'm pretty sure it wasn't meant to be liked. It's done too well.
Ok, there are always you perverted assholes (I know a few of you) who will go to see a movie once they hear "rape-sequence". Let me burst your bubble: it's not in itself particularly graphic and it's only violent, nothing titillating.
Technorati Tags: The, Hills, Have, Eyes, Wes, Craven, movie, movies, cinema, film, films, horror, blood
It's been a while since I saw a real horror movie at a theater. Am still somewhat traumatized. keep in mind that the last thing I saw like The Hills Have Eyes was Saw 2, and that wasn't even meant to be scary.
Summary:
Family on a road trip is terrorized by disfigured savages (mutated products of government nuclear tests) in the New Mexico desert.
In one graphic five-minute sequence, there is a likable man burned alive, a young girl raped, and the young mother of a baby shot. Oh, and I left a killing out so you don't think I want to spoil it entirely for you.
This is, for me, a real horror movie. It's brutal, and bloody, and merciless. It's also hopeless and dark if you take it literally. If you don't, it's a cautionary tale about America, it's past and it's future. It's still dark when you see the obvious (hammered-home) metaphor. I didn't like it, but then I'm pretty sure it wasn't meant to be liked. It's done too well.
Ok, there are always you perverted assholes (I know a few of you) who will go to see a movie once they hear "rape-sequence". Let me burst your bubble: it's not in itself particularly graphic and it's only violent, nothing titillating.
Technorati Tags: The, Hills, Have, Eyes, Wes, Craven, movie, movies, cinema, film, films, horror, blood
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