Creepily effective

Rating: 5/10 (9 July 2007)

"The Hills have eyes" has been remade for the M-TV generation, with lots of in-your-face scares and jumpy moments. The original, if I remember correctly, is a log longer with better characterisation. The beginning is the best bit, with the villains being off-screen, and like "Jaws", the movie fails when the villain is shown. The make-up effects are laughably bad and the "baddies" just look silly. HOwever, Emilie de Ravin saves the day with her portrayal and she carries the film. The cinematography is excellent and the bleak landscape adds to the creepy atmosphere. The script is bog-standard for this type of fare but on the whole it's not bad for a night's entertainment if you're not too fussy.