The Hills Have Eyes | 1977 | USA | Wes Craven

One of Wes Craven’s earlier works after his gruelling Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes throws a lot of ideas such as nuclear mutation, cannibalism and familial violence within a slick tension-taut thriller package. The Carter family are trekking across the Nevada desert in their trailer, heading to Los Angeles on vacation when they become stranded after ignoring the advice of a gas station attendant to stay on the road. After several of the family members attempt to get help, it soon becomes apparent that another type of family is in the area, who slaughter the Carter patriarch before launching a terrifying attack on the trailer, killing and pillaging aplenty. It soon falls down to young Doug and vengeful dog Beast to enact justice on those who’ve wronged them. The film features some of Craven’s best action sequences as well as some surprising commentary on American society and the traditional roles of the nuclear family. The MPAA also ensured only a censored R-rated print was available to the world, which the DPP found too controversial to allow for British audiences.