A middle-class family from Cleveland is going on vacation, crossing the destert headed for California. But when they take an ill-advised short cut (could there be trouble ahead?), crash and are stranded deep inside an "isolated" air force testing range, they meet the locals - a brutal tribe of cave-dwelling, inbred hillbilly cannibals. The cunning savages attack without mercy, until the pitiful survivors strike back with a ferocity they didn't know they had. It know becomes a battle for survival and revenge.

Highly recommended for any fan of horror/suspense movies. Wes Craven went on to bigger productions, his 1984 for-the-money follow-up "The Hills have eyes 2" is best left ignored.

Investigation finished: 2001-02-25

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Story: 7/10 - A familiar tale of what "civilized" people are capable of when they are pushed too far. Wes Craven's sober-minded direction gives this classic shocker a real impact, even if the heroic family dog is a bit too much to swallow.

Acting: 8/10 - The actors are never as annoying as they have every right to be, they all deliver powerful performances and Susan Lanier screams herself through 90 minutes worth of film. What an effort!

Violence: 7/10 - Occasionally very brutal and graphic, but still pretty tame according to Wes Craven's standards (Nightmare on Elm st., Last house on the left, Scream).

Nudity: 0/10 - Mr. Craven always seem to create independent and strong female characters, but he's not one for oogling their subtle talents.

Coolness: 8/10 - I have always had a soft spot for horror movies about normal people battling it out with a pack of ruthless killers, and this is truly one of the coolest of genre.

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