Hi all!

Welcome to a new segment on my blog, where I pit an original horror film against its remake and discuss which one I personally believe is better. There will be a few factors to take into consideration: a.) Does the remake improve the original story, b.) Is the original already so superior, the remake is quite irrelevant and c.) Do both films exist side-by-side, complementing one another in horror cinematic history? For our second subject, we are going to be tackling Wes Craven’s, The Hills Have Eyes from 1977 and Alexandre Aja’s reboot from 2006. These movies follow a suburban family, who become the prey of psychotic cannibals on their way to California. Remember, this is just my opinion. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Round #1 – Improvement 

Did the remake improve the original story? 100% yes. Not only did it provide more gore, creative kills and a creepy post-apocalyptic town, it gave the cannibals a mutant makeover! The additional radiation plotline upped the scare-factor significantly, as well as the overall stakes. I think the director did an excellent job taking an existing idea and injecting it with grotesque elements. It helped that Wes Craven produced the film, allowing him input. Clearly, he approved of it!

Winner – The Hills Have Eyes 2006

Round #2 – Relevance 

Was the original already so superior, it didn’t require a remake? Somewhat. It lacked the charm and terror you see in similar films, such as: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wolf Creek and Wrong Turn. I know it was made in the 70’s, but I wasn’t a fan of the racist language and overt sexual assault scene. Furthermore, the acting was a bit too over dramatic for my taste. The movie benefited greatly by having a reboot.

Winner – The Hills Have Eyes 2006

Round #3 – Cohesion

Can these two movies exist cohesively, side by side? Yes. The remake is not a continuation of the original story, but it does improve upon it. Both plots are relatively similar but the 2006 add-ons make it more horrifying. If you appreciate the film from 1977, I totally understand. It would have been so shocking for its time. I just feel the reboot took it to the next level.

Winner – The Hills Have Eyes 1977 & 2006

THE WINNER IS: The Hills Have Eyes 2006

I typically prefer an original but, in this instance, the remake took the gold. Unlike Suspiria, this was a perfect example of an improvement on the original story.

Thank you so much for reading! What are your thoughts? I’ll be back next time to tackle House on Haunted Hill.

Peace & Love xoxo