A full-blooded horror ride, Aja does it again!

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2006)

Remake of Wes Craven's 1977 horror classic proves to be a top-notch shocker that's fast-paced and never lets up on its sharp edginess!
Family traveling to California breaks down in the New Mexico desert where a band of savage mutants threatens to kill them all.
The Hills Have Eyes 2006 is an excellent and fairly faithful remake that works because it manages to retain the same merciless terror that made the original unforgettable. Director Alexandre Aja (who gave us the ultra-creepy High Tension last year) lends some slick style to the movie, but more importantly knows how to drive suspense and gruesome shocks to effectively horrific extremes! As violent and harrowing as the original film was, this remake is even more so. At times the movie is far more nightmarish than the Wes Craven film. The boys at KNB FX provide some truly gory blood-letting and some terrifying makeup work on the villains. There's also great filming locations, excellent set work, and a moody music score to boot.
The cast is a strong highlight of the film. Aaron Stanford rises to his role well as a desperate father. Dan Byrd is great as a young victim. Vinessa Shaw does an emotional turn as an ill-fated young woman. Kathleen Quinlan and Ted Lavine are both strong as the parents of the family. Emilie de Ravin is also quite effective as a traumatized young woman.
An outstanding remake period, it's easily one of the best in this old-school horror remake cycle! Fans of the horror genre should check it out and the faint of heart (and weak of stomach) should avoid.
**** out of ****