When Bobby refuses to go (and just like that, disappears from the movie), he’s replaced by the team co-owner Ruby (Janus Blythe), who split from her cannibal family during the first movie. Since she now goes by Rachel, nobody knows her secret past. Ruby…excuse me, Rachel gathers up the team members, their girlfriends and a blind girl named Cass (Tamara Stafford) who may or may not, be psychic and drives off into the desert for the race. Just as they take a shortcut through a very familiar area, their school bus breaks down. You can probably guess what happens next…Those hills still have eyes! Pluto (Michael Berryman), his seven-foot-tall uncle, the Reaper (John Bloom) and the rest of the cannibal tribe are still anxious to kill anyone who stumbles onto their area.
A fan of the original film, it was only a few years ago, that I watched the sequel for the first time. The Hills Have Eyes wasn’t a movie in need of a sequel, which I know I avoided because friends and acquaintances said it was terrible. It’s definitely below average. Written by Wes Craven, The Hills Have Eyes 2 lacks his usual careful attention to detail. The narrative is flat and the dialogue sophomoric. Maybe his heart just wasn’t into it. According to the making-of documentary included on this disc, Craven was finishing the script for A Nightmare on Elm Street while he was working on this, so perhaps he was more invested in that project. Nonetheless, Craven’s apparent disinterest means plot holes and inconsistencies abound. Pluto, so threatening in the first film, is played for laughs! Isn’t this supposed to be a horror film? The Hills Have Eyes 2 plays out like little more than a soulless cash grab, but everyone has to get paid sometime.
Taken from a new 2K scan of the original film elements, Arrow’s new 1080p transfer is in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. It’s safe to say this is the best the film is likely to look on the format. Details and resolution look stunning throughout. Joshua Tree offers up some truly beautiful scenic vistas. While grain is thick in places, it still maintains an organic appearance, but it’s still on the noisier side, as Wes Craven’s earlier efforts tend to be. Colors are bright and bold. Black levels are deep and inky without any crush issues. Contrast is strong. The only apparent anomaly is some brief vertical scratches. Otherwise, the image looks wonderful. Viewers should be very pleased with this transfer.
While the LPCM mono audio track has obvious limitations, it does a fine job with the material. It’s been cleaned up nicely and is well balanced. There is no apparent hiss or distortion. Range is understandably limited, but dialogue is largely clean, clear and concise throughout.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available.
Arrow has packaged this release rather nicely. handsomely. The keepcase includes six promotional postcards, and in addition to the keepcase, the sturdy slipbox also houses a folded mini-poster and an expansive 40-page booklet featuring “The Hills Have Heart” by Amanda Reyes and “On the Set: The Hills Have Eyes 2” by Johnny Legend.
- Audio Commentary with The Hysteria Continues: Members of the popular podcast offer critical analysis of the film, trivia, observations, tidbits about the making of the film, and more.
- Blood, Sand and Fire: The Making of The Hills Have Eyes Part II (HD, 31:16) A solid featurette that has interviews with Peter Locke, Michael Berryman, Janus Blythe, Dominick Bruno, John Callas and Henry Manfredini.
- Still Gallery (HD, 6 :52)
- Original Trailer (HD, 2:44)
