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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Blood Relations - The Sun Wars" )
directed by Wes Craven
USA 1977
The 4K UHD of Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes is reviewed HERE
The Carter family are driving through the desert in a station wagon and Winnebego in search of a silver mine. Fred (John Steadman, FADE TO BLACK), the old-timer that runs the gas station, cryptically tries to warn them off venturing further into the desert, but they proceed and wind up stranded in the middle of nowhere. Their first indication that they might not be alone comes when son Bobby (Robert Houston, 1941) searches for one of their runaway dogs in the hills and finds it mutilated. Meanwhile, the father Big Bob (Russ Grieve, FOXY BROWN) has walked back to the gas station and learns from Fred that the "devil child" Jupiter (James Whitworth, THE CANDY SNATCHERS) who Fred abandoned in the desert years ago has spawned a cannibal family living up in the hills. Fred is attacked and killed by one of the clan and Bob tries to get back to his family but is ambushed in the dark. The cannibals crucify Bob and set him on fire as a distraction for Bobby, his mother Ethel (Virginia Vincent, THE BABY), older sister Lynn (Dee Wallace, THE HOWLING), and her husband Doug (Martin Speer, KILLER'S DELIGHT). With them out of the way, Pluto (Michael Berryman, CUT AND RUN) and Mars (Lance Gordon, TWICE DEAD) invade the Winnebego, rape younger sister Brenda (Susan Lanier), and decide to take Lynn and Doug's baby for food. Lynn is killed trying to save her child and Ethel is shot. When daylight comes, Doug heads up into the hills to rescue his infant daughter. Bobby and a traumatized Brenda hold up in the camper, but are soon forced to fight and attempt to outwit another attack. Their other dog Beast (who has also lost his partner Beauty to the cannibals) also has vengeance in mind. Another member of the cannibal family, Ruby (Janus Blythe, EATEN ALIVE) may betray her own to save the baby's life. While intense and brutal, Wes Craven's THE HILLS HAVE EYES looks like a typical grindhouse movie compared to his previous film LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT - and its associated notoriety. Its worn-out crew recycled from Charles Griffith's EAT MY DUST (including D.P. Eric Saarinen), Robert Burns' props from TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, 120 degree heat, special effects injuries, and near cast/crew walk-outs seat it more comfortably along side THE EVIL DEAD, another drive-in horror hit with a celebrated grueling production history, indebtedness to TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (including the art direction) - although the Sam Raimi film is splashier with the blood and entrails - and even a visual reference to Craven's film. Berryman went on to appear in a showy red herring role in Craven's more polished - although studio-tampered - DEADLY BLESSING, and the booby trap set up by Bobby and Brenda anticipates the more elaborate traps that Nancy Thompson prepares for Freddy Krueger in Craven's mainstream hit A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Producer Peter Locke - who also plays Mercury, another member of the cannibal clan - produced Craven's sequel as well as the 2006 remake and its sequel. Houston and Blythe reunited also reunited with Craven and Locke in the sequel (although they had already appeared together in CHEERLEADERS WILD WEEKEND). Composer Don Peake (THE PREY) would reunite with Craven in his studio days to score THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS. Art director Robert Burns went on to work with HILLS effects make-up artists on the TCM-influenced TOURIST TRAP the following year. Alexandre Aja's remake was not well-acted, but substituted run-of-the-mill disfigured and murderous nuclear testing mutants for the more menacing cannibal clan of the original. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: 22 July 1977 (USA)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Image Entertainment "Midnight Madness Series" - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Arrow (Limited Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Eric Cotenas and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!
Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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Box Covers |
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Re-Released on Blu-ray in July 2017: |
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Distribution |
Anchor Bay Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC |
Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness) Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Arrow Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:29:45 | 1:29:47.715 |
Original Ending: 1:29:59:609 Alternate Ending: 1:31:17.363 |
Video |
1.82:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,950,996,514 bytesFeature: 15,550,248,960 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 17.99 Mbps |
1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 46,291,666,849 bytesOriginal Ending: 26,837,492,352 bytes Alternate Ending: 27,219,409,536 bytesVideo Bitrate: 34.95 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Anchor Bay Entertainment
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Bitrate:
Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) Blu-ray
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Bitrate:
Arrow (Original Ending)
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Bitrate:
Arrow (Alternate Ending)
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Audio | English DTS-ES 5.1; English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX; English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround; English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1799 kbps 6.1 / 48
kHz / 1799 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 6.1-ES / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps
/ 16-bit) |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | English HoH | None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 21 |
Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,950,996,514 bytesFeature: 15,550,248,960 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 17.99 Mbps
Edition Details: • Featurettes - Looking Back at The Hills Have Eyes (54:33), The Directors: The Films of Wes Craven (58:35), Restoration Demo (4:13) • Trailers (6 - 7:18) • Alternate Ending (10:18) • Stills Galleries
• Wes
Craven Bio Blu-ray
Release Date: September 6th,
2011 Chapters 10 |
Release
Information: Studio: Arrow
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 46,291,666,849 bytesOriginal Ending: 26,837,492,352 bytes Alternate Ending: 27,219,409,536 bytesVideo Bitrate: 34.95 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition
Details: • Audio commentary with Cast
• Audio
commentary with Mikel J. Koven • Interview with Martin Speer (16:08) • The Desert Sessions brand new interview with composer Don Peake (11:00) • Alternate ending, in HD for the first time (11:35)
• Outtakes
(18:58) Chapters: 12 |
Comments |
The 4K UHD of Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes is reviewed HERE
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE
Blu-ray
September 2016': This is the another Arrow
Blu-ray
release that is being simultaneously released in both
region 'A' (US) and 'B' (UK). It is the exact same
package on both sides of the pond but there are minor
cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do
with differing copyright info and barcodes, ex. the US
release doesn't have BBFC logos.'
The Arrow
Blu-ray
is advertised as a "Brand new 4K restoration from
original film elements, supervised by producer Peter
Locke". Arrow have forgone the bump and stuck with the original mono via a linear PCM 1.0 channel, track at 24-bit. This is a case where I can't imagine it sounding any better - or more authentic to its roots. There are still, production-related, weaknesses but the dialogue seems much clearer and the effects still export some depth. Arrow include optional English (SDH) subtitles on their region FREE Blu-ray disc. Arrow include three commentaries; the original one with Wes Craven and Peter Locke as found on the 2003 DVD and Image's 2011 BD. There are two more - one with the cast. a little scattered and one with Mikel J. Koven, Senior Lecturer & Course Leader, Film Studies, author of Blaxploitation Film (2010), Film, Folklore & Urban Legends (2008) and La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film (2006); he co-edited Folklore/Cinema: Popular Film as Vernacular Entertainment (2007). His insights will be much appreciated (I have not had the opportunity to indulge) but it promises to be more formal and professional. Looking Back on The Hills Have Eyes is the same 55-minute making-of documentary featuring interviews with Craven, Locke, actors Michael Berryman, Dee Wallace, Janus Blythe, Robert Houston, Susan Lanier and director of photography Eric Saarinen. There is a new 16-minute interview with actor Martin Speer conducted in June 2016 and The Desert Sessions - another brand new interview - this time with composer Don Peake running exactly 11-minutes.It was conducted on May 2016. We can see the alternate ending, in HD for 11.5 minutes as well as 20-minutes of outtakes, trailers (US - 2:43, German - 2:46) and TV Spots (1:54), an image gallery and on the root of the disc is the original screenplay in PDF format. The Arrow Blu-ray package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shippers, 6 x postcards, a reversible fold-out poster featuring new and original artwork and a limited edition booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Brad Stevens and a consideration of the Hills franchise by Ewan Cant, illustrated with original archive stills.
Arrow have again gone 'to the max' with
their production giving us the definitive package for
Wes Craven's, The Hills Have Eyes. This
Blu-ray set is a keeper
and if you are keen - I wouldn't wait to get the book as
well. Our highest recommendation for fans of the film!
***
ADDITION:
Image Entertainment "Midnight Madness Series" - Region 'A' -
Blu-ray -
September 11':
Audio-wise we get the option of a DTS-HD Master 6.1 bump at 1799 kbps or a linear PCM mono track (2.0 channel) at 1536 kbps. Its good to have the choice and I sampled both - the surround was more impressive than I was anticipating but I watched the majority via the, more authentic, PCM track. Still creepy but less depth and, obviously, no range. Image Entertainment have no included any subtitles where the Anchor Bay DVD offers optional English. My Momitsu has determined the Blu-ray to be region 'A'-locked. The Blu-ray has all of the valuable supplements from the DVD including the important audio commentary by director Wes Craven and producer Peter Locke and the two featurettes - Looking Back at The Hills Have Eyes (54:33), The Directors: The Films of Wes Craven (58:35) - totaling almost 2 hours. We also get the 10-minute alt-ending, 6 trailers, Stills Galleries and text Craven bio and 4-minute split screen restoration demo but it has the benefit of accessing the extras all on one disc. The important genre film will be attractive in hi-def to fans - the director's second effort and reminiscent of Drive-In nights with greasy popcorn littering the back seat. We are talking in the same vein as Tobe Hooper's iconic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" without that film's gravitas. Very down-and-dirty cinema but The Hills Have Eyes still works! *** ON THE DVD: 'Anchor Bay's HD-mastered transfer of this Super 16 blow-up looks appropriately grainy - even harshly so at some points - throughout with very little edge enhancement. Fast movement is often indistinct in 'A'ze frame, but there is none of the smearing associated with DVNR. Besides the original mono track, DTS-ES and 5.1 EX are also included (the 2.0 surround option seems like overkill, though). Director Wes Craven and producer Peter Locke contribute an entertaining audio commentary and pop up again in the retrospective documentary, which also features actors Michael Berryman, Robert Houston, Susan Lanier, Janus Blythe, and Dee Wallace, as well as cinematographer Eric Saarinen. Also included is the hour-long AFI special "The Directors: The Films of Wes Craven" (AFI's hour-long George Romero special is featured on Anchor Bay's SEASON OF THE WITCH/THERE'S ALWAYS VANILLA disc). The special is available as a separate release (SEE HERE) as well. The film's alternate "happy" ending is also included (the feature's ending is somewhat abrupt, but it also suggests that good triumphs). Trailers, TV spots, still galleries, DVD-ROM content (including the original "Blood Relations" script in PDF), as well as a restoration demo round out the extras (I'm assuming that the Image Blu-ray will utilize the same HD master since the restoration demo is listed among the extra features). -Eric Cotenas |
DVD Menus
(Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC
- LEFT vs. Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region
'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT)
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Extras
Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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ubtitle Sample Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures
Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Image Entertainment (Midnight Madness Series) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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