The Hills Have Eyes (2006) is a horror film set in the farthest reaches of New Mexican desert. Actually, the town full of mutants just beyond the hills in the title was once not far from the various beaten paths of the land of enchantment. But nuclear testing has taken its toll. The unfortunate community in question lies on the other side of a sign reading No Trespassing, U.S. Government, Department of Energy.
The song, "More and More," sung near the beginning, is reminiscent of "We'll Meet Again" in Dr. Strangelove (1964), both synced to mushroom clouds. To be sure, Dr. Strangelove has its whimsical side. But there is little warmth and charm in calling to mind the rococo Kubrick film. Straight off, The Hills Have Eyes tells the audience that between 1945 and 1962 331 atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted. It also states how resultant genetic defects have been consistently denied. However, it is common knowledge that these detonations victimized many innocents. This serves to underscore the deformities depicted herein, however grotesque.
As Roger Ebert points out, it all begins with a bad gas station, as familiar and forbidding a sight as any in the horror genre. Fans of gratuitous gore and guts should know who they are before slipping this dvd into the player. Visual compositions are ugly from the start and then get uglier. The whole history of the atom bomb -- if this is the excuse -- crisscrosses Albuquerque north and south. And true enough, the vacant surroundings seem to stretch without end. But the idea that New Mexico is forever cursed is unsound. Despite a major airbase, few Albuquerqueans are hawkish enough to want nuclear war. Fewer still desire to get even in the worst way for toxins that, regretfully, have been deposited into the sand.
Interestingly, the film was made mostly in Morocco. Fair enough: Morocco for New Mexico. The state needs movie-making but can do without the negative publicity. It is hard enough facing facts such as they are. No one is happy about the infamous 1945 blast.
According to IMDB, the film made $15,000,000 upon opening, immediately recovering its total cost and insuring a sequel. So much money is hard to argue with despite issues surrounding content. The "version to die for" can be found on Blu-ray at Hastings or online.
