The original The Hills Have Eyes (1977), directed by Wes Craven, is a gritty, raw, and unsettling slice of ‘70s horror. It’s low-budget and rough around the edges, but that only adds to its intensity. The story follows a suburban family stranded in the desert, only to be hunted by a savage, mutated clan living in the hills. What makes the original work so well is its grimy realism—there’s a genuine sense of danger and desperation throughout. It’s not polished, it’s not pretty, but it’s relentless. The tension builds naturally, and it taps into some primal fears about isolation, survival, and what people are capable of when pushed to the edge. Craven knew exactly how to get under your skin, and he absolutely delivers here.
The 2006 remake, directed by Alexandre Aja, cranks up the gore and brutality but loses some of the raw impact of the original. It’s much flashier and more graphic, with a higher budget and more extreme visuals. The mutants are more monstrous and heavily designed, and the violence is dialled up to eleven. Some scenes hit hard, and there are moments that genuinely shock—but the subtle unease of the original is mostly replaced with in-your-face aggression.
It’s not a bad remake—it has its moments, and it doesn’t disgrace the original—but it doesn’t feel as real or as tense. It trades grit for gore, and in doing so, loses some of the psychological punch.
In the end, Craven’s original wins clearly. It’s a rough ride, but it’s smart, scary, and unforgettable.
Winner: The Hills Have Eyes (1977) (8/10)
Remake: The Hills Have Eyes (2006) (6/10)
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