With thrillers like ‘Red Eye’, which only just appeared on Blu-ray, and various horror classics, Wes Craven gave the film world tense hours. He also caused youth protection quirks. This is how “Hill of Bloody Eyes” was shortened in Germany Distorted: In the first synchro, the atomic mutants of the original version just became aliens!
The sequel to the thriller, now also known in this country as “The Hills Have Eyes”, also deserves a mention in the lexicon of cinematic rarities. Not in the least because “In the Valley of Wolves” or “The Hills Have Eyes 2” accidentally (!) ended up on the index. Blu-rays of the horror movie FSK 18 are usually only used for years. But it will make a comeback soon: The Hills Have Eyes 2 will be released as a special edition on Blu-ray on June 15, 2023.
The Special Edition also includes the movie on DVD. The horror action movie will be on both discs with a new, improved master presented so that movie fans can see the horror better than before. In addition, the edition contains a booklet about the infamous production history.
“The Hills Have Eyes 2”: mutants, buzzing engines and… woof!
Bobby (Robert Houston) has had nightmares for years about his family being slaughtered by hillbilly mutants. Still, his friends come up with the strange idea of persuading him to take part in a motocross rally in the desert where he was traumatized. The hoped-for healing process is soon drowned out not only by the whine of the engines, but also by the rumbling stomachs of the mutated cannibals that live there…
“The Hills Have Eyes 2” was initially shortened in Germany for an FSK rating from the age of 16 before the uncut version was finally released on DVD in 2007. But the 18+ uncut version landed on the index for a short time three years later – noisy because the responsible agency confused the movie with 2007’s “The Hills Have Eyes 2”.
But while the eponymous sequel to The Hills Have Eyes remake has stayed true to the horror tonality of its predecessor, Wes Craven’s 1985 The Hills Have Eyes 2 sets itself apart from its predecessor: cannibal mutant terror becomes a medley of cannibal horror in the sequel. and action in the end times aesthetic, vaguely reminiscent of “Mad Max”.
Film fans who do not yet know “The Hills Have Eyes 2” should not be promised too much. Than not only the German publication history of the film is curious, but also its origin – what can be noted about him:
When the realization of his great hope “Nightmare On Elm Street” was delayed, Craven agreed to make a sequel to his hit “The Hills Have Eyes”. As Craven later admitted, his sole motivation was to raise much-needed money. Oddly enough, however, the studio soon began to worry about money:
About two-thirds of the way through filming, the producers dropped out of the project, fearing it would be a loss. Soon after, Craven was finally able to direct Nightmare On Elm Street – and this success left The Hills Have Eyes 2 producers wanting to complete the horror action film.
However, Craven had already completed this embarrassment project, which is why the material that had already been shot with few resources and many flashbacks was stretched to feature length. Even a dog gets its own flashback, bringing “The Hills Have Eyes 2” both massive malice and cult adoration, including references to modern genre jokes like “Detention.”