Average remake of an overrated "classic"

Rating: Null/10 (11 January 2008)

I wasn't impressed by Wes Craven's original movie so it was with more than a little trepidation that I sat down to watch the 2006 glossy remake. Despite a relatively impressive opening, my instincts proved correct. While the new film is a reasonable re-imagining of the original, it still suffers from the poor premise.
With both Craven's and Aja's movies, I've felt very little empathy for the characters. While I like horror films, the nihilistic elements of "Hills" has always left me feeling somewhat cold.
The film does have some redeeming features. There are some brief scenes of tension towards the finale and the effects work is top drawer stuff. The cast is pleasing and the cinematography is beautiful.
What lets the film down is an overall sense of suspense for the most part and the overall premise doesn't really work for me. Both the original and remakes of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" stand head and bloody shoulders above these efforts.
6 out of 10.