Every The Hills Have Eyes Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

The Hills Have Eyes franchise popularized the cannibal family horror sub-genre but its four films are distinctly different; here’s how they compare.

You Are Reading :Every The Hills Have Eyes Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

In 1977, Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes premiered and sparked an entire sub-genre within horror featuring cannibalistic families. It was Craven’s third feature-length movie as a writer and director. The Hills Have Eyes franchise includes the original, a remake, and two sequels. While the original film was so successful it surpassed Craven’s directorial debut, The Last House On The Left (1972), its subsequent installments were unable to match the 1977 film’s success. Regardless, each movie is unique in its depiction of the iconic cannibalistic family the horror legend created nearly fifty years ago. Here’s how they compare to each other.

Throughout the entirety of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, Wes Craven dominated a portion of the genre with his iconic movies, including two major horror franchises: A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) and Scream (1996). While others have been more successful in their output throughout the years, The Hills Have Eyes has remained one of Craven’s most difficult films to remake. Regardless, it did prompt a wave of other cannibal-focused entertainment such as the Wrong Turn franchise. While it is a couple decades removed from the original film, it undoubtedly took some influence from Craven’s Jupiter family, but gave their survival tactics an entirely different motive.

In 2006, Alexandre Aja (Horns) took up the task of remaking The Hills Have Eyes for a contemporary audience. The film was somewhat well received and resulted in a sequel that premiered a year later in 2007, directed by Martin Weisz. With three different directors creating their own horrific interpretations of a cannibal family out in the desert, here are the four films in The Hills Have Eyes franchise ranked from worst to best.

4. The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)

Martin Weisz’s The Hills Have Eyes 2 was not a complete failure. Its plot was well crafted and conceptually thought-out, but it ultimately faltered by relying on jump scares, gore, unnecessary scenes used for superficial shock value, and poor acting. The film focuses on the need for Papa Hades (Michael Bailey Smith) to produce more members of the family and the gruesome tactics he uses in order to find a victim to carry his children. When the National Guard is sent in to assist scientists, they are immediately attacked. In-between scenes of gore there are periods of bland dialogue as well as an overall slow progression.

3. The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1984)

The Hills Have Eyes Part II is the official sequel to the original 1977 film, and was directed by Craven. It follows the survivors of the Jupiter family several years later as they attempt to recover. By pure coincidence, Rachel (previously known as Ruby) winds up back in the desert where the cannibal family is still alive and prepared to enact their revenge. She and a group of friends become face to face with the entirety of the Jupiter clan and must fight for their lives. The film is remarkably underwhelming and poorly produced. The Hills Have Eyes Part II relies on scares that were previously used in the original and doesn’t do those moments justice. It was such a disappointment that even Wes Craven wanted to disown the movie shortly after it premiered.

2. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

The Hills Have Eyes remake follows the original movie’s plot as close as it possibly can. It reintroduces the entirety of the Jupiter clan, but they are remarkably less tactful than Craven’s depiction of them. They seem to understand what they must do in order to survive, yet they get sidetracked with bizarre objects and lose sight of their primary goal. While the cinematography is impeccable, the plot leaves more to be desired, especially considering its source material. Nonetheless, it is a decent contribution to The Hills Have Eyes franchise, but ultimately pales in comparison to Wes Craven’s 1977 film.

1. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes was one of the first of its kind to introduce the idea that a cannibal family could be lurking in the open, awaiting their next meal. He developed each character with such detail and creativity that their stories immediately draw in viewers. The film depicts the Jupiter clan as having depth and a worthy backstory that could even evoke potential sympathy towards them. Craven’s most astounding use of the film’s contents is his ability to ensure that it does not take itself too seriously, with clever quips landing throughout.

Ultimately, none of the other installments in The Hills Have Eyes franchise can compare to the original. When Wes Craven created the 1977 film, he established an all new form of presenting cannibals and the idea that some of the gruesome aspects of life can occur in broad daylight.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/hills-have-eyes-movies-ranked-best-worst/