The Hills Have Eyes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The Hills Have Eyes" has received a notable 4K UHD Blu-ray release from Arrow Video, showcasing the film's rugged desert landscape with an impressive clarity that belies its 16mm origins. Restored from the best available 35mm blow-up elements, due to the loss of the original 16mm negatives, this edition offers a true-to-source grain presentation that is remarkably well-managed throughout. The restoration and scanning process, meticulously overseen at Gamma Ray Digital in Boston, and the HDR grading carried out by Jan Frederick Kuhn and Benjamin Albrecht at LSP Medien, have imbued the film with a visual depth and richness that significantly enhances its viewing experience. Despite the inherent limitations of the source material, including a softer image quality and occasional print damage, the HDR10 color grading leverages high dynamic range to striking effect—balancing rich, lifelike saturation with improved blacks and contrast that illuminate the stark, desolate setting of the film.

Technical specifics include a native 2160p resolution on a 1.78:1 aspect ratio screen, expanded slightly from the original 1.85:1 OAR, utilizing 10-bit video depth and encoded using the HEVC codec. This edition is notable for its darker color grade compared to previous releases, a choice that enhances texture and depth, particularly in costume and environmental details. The color timing adjustments successfully mitigate previous issues with over-saturated skin tones and overly bright highlights, without sacrificing the granularity or the rugged visual appeal integral to the film's atmosphere. Variances in color temperature, clarity, and grain structure are evident due to the source material's quality, but these aspects do not detract from the overall impressive nature of this transfer.

Comparisons with prior Arrow and Turbine releases reveal subtle yet significant improvements, primarily in color grading and detail preservation, affirming this 4K edition as a definitive visual upgrade. Without significant alterations from Turbine’s 4K HDR master, Arrow's release still stands out for its faithful handling of the film’s aesthetic—balancing between preserving its original gritty texture and enhancing its visual appeal through modern restoration techniques. The consistent bit rate performance indicates solid disc compression, avoiding any significant artifacts or compression issues which could detract from the viewing experience. For enthusiasts and collectors alike, this release represents a worthy addition, maintaining the essential qualities of the film while presenting it in a visually stunning new light.

Arrow's release of "The Hills Have Eyes" on 4K UHD Blu-Ray not only elevates the visual experience but significantly enhances the audio presentation. This version includes three DTS-HD Master Audio tracks: a Mono track, a 2.0 Stereo track, and an ambitious 7.1 soundtrack. The Mono track, originating from the previous LPCM Mono track found in Arrow's Limited Edition 1080 release, maintains its excellence here, offering rich mid-range tones and clear dialogue without any degradation or noise interference. Its fullness and meaty quality ensure that every utterance, even the subdued mumbles of the Jupiter clan, is discernible. This track remains an aural delight that pairs impeccably with the film’s visual vibrancy.

Moving beyond the Mono, the release broadens its sonic landscape with Stereo and 7.1 options, ported over from the German 4K UHD released by Turbine. The 2.0 track introduces a wider soundstage, though it doesn’t venture into overly expansive territories. It’s the 7.1 mix that genuinely steps into a broader sonic world, unraveling ambient sounds and Don Peake’s score across a more intricate soundscape. While respecting the original’s integrity without incorporating new foley effects for an artificial modern touch, this track strategically utilizes the available channels to enhance atmospheric immersion. Despite this, some listeners may find its distribution slightly thinning the frontal soundstage, impacting the overall cohesion perceived in the Mono mix.

All tracks exhibit fine fidelity, with dialogues rendered with exceptional clarity across all scenarios - from serene conversations to the height of chaos without any hint of distortion or loss in quality. Noteworthy is the audio’s fidelity to its origins, devoid of unnecessary embellishments or modern reinterpretations, making it a respectful upgrade. The addition of English SDH subtitles enhances accessibility, rounding off a technically solid auditory enhancement that enhances the Blu-Ray’s appeal while staying true to its cinematic roots.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray edition of "The Hills Have Eyes" amalgamates a comprehensive set of extras from Arrow's Limited Edition 1080 release, ensuring fans a hearty dose of nostalgia coupled with unparalleled quality. With a suite of audio commentaries from the cast, including insights from the late Wes Craven and producer Peter Locke, and a film lecturer Mikel J. Koven, the package promises a deep dive into the making and legacy of this horror classic. Noteworthy features such as the 55-minute "Looking Back on The Hills Have Eyes," interviews with key cast members and the composer, an alternate ending accessible via seamless branching, and an array of outtakes enrich the viewing experience further. While the plethora of on-disc extras brilliantly complements the film, the physical exclusives like the reversible poster, six postcards, and a detailed booklet enclosed within a robust slipbox, albeit not reviewed here, underline the edition's collectibility. However, it's notable that this release does not introduce new materials over its predecessor, which may leave long-time collectors desiring more.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Wes Craven and Peter Locke: In-depth discussion and reminiscence on the film's production.
• Audio Commentary with Mikel J. Koven: Scholarly insight into the film’s themes.
• Audio Commentary with Cast: Engaging conversation touching on backgrounds, careers, and experiences in the film.
• Looking Back on The Hills Have Eyes: A retrospective featuring crucial interviews.
• Family Business: Interview with Martin Speer.
• The Desert Sessions: Insightful interview with composer Don Peake.
• Alternate Ending: Available via seamless branching for integrated viewing experience.
• Outtakes: A collection of behind-the-scenes moments.
• Trailers and TV Spots: Promotional material including US and German trailers.
• Image Gallery: High-definition stills collection.
• Original Screenplay: BD-ROM content providing an in-depth script reading experience.

In his 1977 cinematic endeavor, "The Hills Have Eyes," legendary horror director Wes Craven taps into the primal fear of the unknown and the monstrous that lurks within the familiar. Drawing inspiration from the harrowing tales of Sawney Bean and influenced by the raw potency of Tobe Hooper’s "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," Craven crafts a narrative that not only horrifies but also provokes thought on the duality of civilization and savagery. Set against the desolate backdrop of the Mojave Desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains, the film juxtaposes the ostensibly mundane Carter family with the grotesque Jupiter clan, revealing unsettling parallels in their capacities for violence and survival. This thematic exploration is further enriched by the film’s candid commentary on societal intolerance and the unforeseen monsters it breeds within the crucible of human advancement and nuclear testing areas.

The film gains additional depth from its casting and technical execution. With early performances by future genre stalwarts Dee Wallace and Michael Berryman, Craven elevates the narrative with compelling characters that resonate beyond their on-screen presence. The utilization of 16mm photography marries the film's raw, unsettling narrative to its visual presentation, crafting an experience that is as visually striking as it is thematically dense. Despite these strengths, "The Hills Have Eyes" stumbles in its latter half, succumbing to narrative conveniences and genre tropes that somewhat diminish its earlier achievements in character development and thematic exploration.

Arrow Video's 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation honors Craven’s vision, bringing this 1970s horror classic into the modern age with remarkable clarity and fidelity. Based on Turbine Medien's master for the German market, this release showcases the stark desert landscapes and gritty textures that define the film’s aesthetic. While it refrains from including the original 1080p disc, the package compensates with a bounty of supplemental materials carried over from its Limited Edition predecessor. The enhancements in visual quality ensure that "The Hills Have Eyes" not only endures as a pivotal piece of horror cinema but also as a testament to its era's uncompromising storytelling and aesthetic innovation.

Arrow Video's 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Wes Craven's "The Hills Have Eyes" has been met with strong enthusiasm from the horror community, and for good reason. This cinematic classic, marked by its gritty narrative and intense portrayal of a quintessentially American family's nightmarish ordeal, receives a commendable visual enhancement over its 1080p predecessor. Despite the limitations of the original source material, the upgrade to a native 4K HDR10 transfer significantly ameliorates previous issues with video quality, offering a much more vivid and impactful viewing experience. Accompanied by three audio options, including a notably rich 7.1 mix, the technical presentation is impressively immersive. On the supplemental front, Arrow has maintained their reputation for excellence, providing a robust package that will certainly please fans of the genre.

However, the decision to upgrade may not be clear-cut for everyone. Those who already possess the prior 1080p version might find the £30 price point steep for what essentially amounts to an improvement in visual fidelity alone. Notwithstanding, for devotees of Wes Craven or newcomers to his early work, this release represents a valuable addition to their collection, not only for the superior A/V performance but also for the inclusion of previously lauded extras. The film's enduring power as both a horror staple and a cult favorite is undeniably augmented by this release.

In conclusion, Arrow Video's 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Hills Have Eyes" stands as a vital upgrade for enthusiasts seeking the definitive viewing experience of this horror classic. While the investment may prompt hesitation for those with the film's earlier version, the substantial enhancements in visual and audio quality, coupled with Arrow's consistently top-tier supplementary content, render this release highly recommended. For Craven aficionados and horror collectors alike, this limited edition set embodies an essential acquisition.