The Hills Have Eyes 1977 vs 2006: Brutality Compared

Love brutal horror? We’re pitting the gritty 1977 Hills Have Eyes trailblazer against its 2006 high-octane remake to see which one makes our hearts race faster. Let’s dive in!

Budget:

• 1977: The original “The Hills Have Eyes” had a very modest budget. While the exact figure may not be widely reported, it was a low-budget film typical of horror films of that era. Estimates put the budget at around $230,000.

• 2006: The remake had a significantly larger budget, reflective of inflation and the increased production values in contemporary horror cinema. The budget for the 2006 version was around $15 million.

Plot:

• 1977: The plot centers on the Carter family, who are traveling through the Nevada desert. After their car breaks down, they become the target of a group of cannibalistic mutants living in the hills. The film is known for its gritty and intense portrayal of survival.

• 2006: The remake stays fairly true to the original plot but includes more backstory for the mutants, explaining their condition as the result of nuclear testing by the government. The violence and gore are more explicit, reflecting the change in what audiences expect from horror movies.

Box Office:

• 1977: The original film was a financial success, grossing approximately $25 million. It was quite an impressive feat for a low-budget horror movie at the time.

• 2006: The remake also performed well at the box office, earning about $70 million worldwide. This was a solid return on its $15 million investment.

Reception:

• 1977: Upon its initial release, Wes Craven’s “The Hills Have Eyes” might not have been universally lauded, but as the years passed, the film’s reputation grew considerably. Critics and fans alike came to appreciate the raw and unflinching manner in which Craven delivered his nightmarish vision. The film’s gritty realism and unforgiving depiction of a family’s fight for survival against a clan of cannibalistic mutants struck a chord with audiences looking for more than just jump scares in their horror fare. Over time, it has been viewed as a pivotal piece of the genre, influencing countless filmmakers with its innovative use of tension and setting, and it is frequently cited for its commentary on the duality of civilization versus savagery.

• 2006: Alexandre Aja’s remake of “The Hills Have Eyes” arrived in a new millennium with audiences now accustomed to a higher gore quotient and slicker production values. Critics noted that while the film paid homage to its predecessor, it also carved out its own identity with a more stylized approach to storytelling and a deeper exploration of the mutants’ origin. The remake was praised for its intense performances, particularly from lead actor Aaron Stanford, and its unapologetic brutality, pushing the envelope further than the original. However, some critics and purists of the genre felt that the glossy finish diminished the raw terror that made the 1977 version so unsettling. Nevertheless, the 2006 film resonated with a new generation of horror enthusiasts and managed to stand on its own as a formidable entry in the genre, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the story and its capacity to be reinterpreted for contemporary audiences.

Our Take

The Hills Have Eyes is a movie that only a true horror fan can love. Let’s be honest; we’re watching it for the sheer brutality. While the original Hills Have Eyes was considered extreme in 1977 and has a unique grit similar to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it doesn’t age well when we have a high-quality remake to compare it to.

The 2006 “The Hills Have Eyes” perfectly captures the intense and brutal nature of its storyline. It fully embraces the violence and horror the plot demands and often pushes boundaries you don’t expect. The trailer scene is especially effective at depicting a family’s worst nightmare in a raw and harrowing way that will be forever seared into our memories. The remake takes the brutal cake!

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