The Hills Have Eyes is an American horror film by Wes Craven from 1977. The film depicts the Carters, a suburban family who become stuck in the Nevada desert and are pursued by a cannibal savage family.
Producer Peter Locke wanted to fund a film similar to Craven's 1972 directorial debut, The Last House on the Left. The film's storyline was based on the legend of Scottish cannibal Sawney Bean, which Craven saw as depicting how seemingly civilized people may become savages. Other inspirations came from John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Filming for The Hills Have Eyes took place in the Mojave Desert. Orignally, the film's crew was skeptical in what they were doing, but became increasingly impassioned as a result of the enthusiasm of Craven.
The Hills Have Eyes grossed $25 million at the box office, spawning a franchise. Craven worked on all subsequent films in the series. The film was first released on VHS in 1988 and then on DVD and Blu-ray, with Don Peake's soundtrack available on CD and vinyl. The film received largely positive reviews, with critics applauding the tense narrative and humor. Some critics saw the picture as a commentary on morality and American politics. It has since become a cult classic.
Cast[]
| Character | Actor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brenda Carter
|
Susan Lanier | |
|
Bobby Carter
|
Robert Houston | |
|
Doug Wood
|
Martin Speer | |
|
Lynne Wood
|
Dee Wallace | |
|
Big Bob Carter
|
Russ Grieve | |
|
Fred
|
John Steadman | |
|
Jupiter
|
James Whitworth | |
|
Ethel Carter
|
Virginia Vincent | |
|
Mars
|
Lance Gordon | |
|
Pluto
|
Michael Berryman | |
|
Ruby
|
Janus Blythe | |
|
Mama
|
Cordy Clark | |
|
Mercury
|
Peter Locke (as Arthur King) | |
International versions[]
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
|
Catalan | Els turons tenen ulls |
 
|
French | Le visage de la peur La Colline a des yeux |
|
German (MGS-Synchron GmbH) |
Hügel der blutigen Augen |
|
|
German (second dub) |
Hügel der blutigen Augen |
|
Italian (first dub) |
Le colline hanno gli occhi |
|
|
Italian (CRC Compagnia Realizzazioni Cinetelevisive) |
Le colline hanno gli occhi |
|
|
Persian | تپه ها چشم دارند |
|
Portuguese (Brazil) | Quadrilha de Sádicos |
|
Spanish (Cinearte) |
Las colinas tienen ojos |
|
|
Spanish (K2000) |
Las colinas tienen ojos |