REVIEW: ‘The Hills Have Eyes Part II,’ new limited edition
Image: Courtesy of Arrow Video / Provided by site with permission.
If you are a fan of Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes, the 1977 horror classic about a band of marauding cannibals who terrorize a family lost in the high desert, then there’s a good chance you’ll be a fan of The Hills Have Eyes: Part II, the 1985 sequel also directed by Craven.
This second part essentially continues the story of the first installment, mimicking almost the exact same circumstances of a group of people who find themselves lost in the desert. Guess what? Yep, those some cannibals turn up again.
If you’re not a fan of this type of doom-laced horror movie, there’s a good chance that Part II will prove to be absolutely forgetful entertainment. The jokes are dated. The scares are mostly nonexistent. The interesting premise and social commentary of the original are largely brushed aside for cheap thrills and trite plot points.
Interestingly, and somewhat dismayingly, there are many flashbacks to the original, all of which come off as odd and obvious filler. Then there are the horror-movie elements that audiences have come to expect, especially from early Craven: explosions, setup kill scenes and screaming soon-to-be victims.
The acting is passable, and it’s always a joy to watch Michael Berryman on the screen (he plays Pluto). There have certainly been worse performances in the annals of horror-dom, but any talent is largely wasted on a too-easy premise, a meandering plot and mutant villains that simply don’t scare the audience like they used to.
Kudos to Arrow Video trying their best and releasing a limited edition of the 1985 film. Their Blu-ray disc includes a making-of documentary, commentary track by The Hysteria Continues, original theatrical trailer and stills gallery. A poster and postcards also come with the set.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Hills Have Eyes: Part II (1985). Written and directed by Wes Craven. Starring Robert Houston, Tamara Stafford and Michael Berryman. Running time: 86 minutes. Rated R. Rating: 
