5 Feet of Fury

‘The Hills Have Eyes’ (1977) — today’s offering at Trailers from Hell

View the The Hills Have Eyes trailer courtesy of Trailers from Hell (who are still working on their embed code…)

Wes Craven’s all-purpose metaphor is a cornerstone of the “hick’s revenge” horror sub-genre.

It’s Munich with mutants: does revenge lower you to the level of your enemies? (Yeah, probably, but as long as you win in the end, who gives a crap? seems to be the accidental message of Hills. Shoulda thought that one out just a little longer, Wes…)

Nice point about agoraphobia here.

More about fandom’s beloved Michael Berryman, “born with 26 birth defects,” whose father was, yes, a neurosurgeon. (Hear 2000 conventioneers sing him “Happy Birthday”)

Spoiler: originally, the baby did get eaten, but the cast and crew revolted and Craven changed the script.

(Probably the most disconcerting thing for audiences of the 2006 remake was being forced to root for the Republican dad.)