Produced in 1977 this was Wes Craven's follow up to the brutal THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. While HOUSE... was pure underground exploitation with little regard for artfulness, HILLS... totally shows Craven to be creative and crafty in this low-budget exercise in terror. While the film is excessive in the violence department, in Wes's previous venture the violence was lingered on and mired in too much reality whereas this film is horrifying but still has a bit of a fantasy element in order to keep the viewer somewhat distanced from the grueling murders. Both films feature scenarios in which families are terrorized by ne'er do wells followed up by the family seeking revenge. This film is the superior product.

Shot under rough circumstances in the desert where it was either blazing hot or freezing cold, Craven, producer Pete Lock and cinematographer Eric Saarinen stretch the budget like taffy and get plenty of bang for their limited bucks. Saarinen makes some miracles as far as the action scenes and the night shots. The film stock produced some beautiful colors in the desert from the majestic rocks to the desert flora to the colors of the victim's clothes. The acting is all very believable with veteran actor John Steadman (THE LONGEST YARD, EMPEROR OF THE NORTH and CHEECH & CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE) anchoring the cast as Papa Jupe's reluctant sperm donor. And of course, this is the film that made the great Michael Berryman famous.

Arrow has done a great job with this Blu-ray release. While some things could not be fixed due to budget restrictions, some of the grainy night scenes and flare shots create a documentary vibe that adds to the terror. Arrow ports over the outstanding documentary from the Anchor Bay DVD, the films alternate ending and includes a new interview with Martin Speer among other extras.