The Hills Have Eyes 2

Director Martin Weisz's gore-soaked sequel to the 2006 remake of Wes Craven's classic 1977 splatter film is predictably predictable. Once again, we're treated to stomach-turning depictions of rape, murder, and dismemberment committed by marauding mutants in the southwestern U.S., only this time around the victims are National Guard trainees, all of whom are types rather than characters—the blustering hothead (Jacob Vargas), the smart, good-natured wimp (Michael McMillian), and a couple of improbably bodacious babes (Daniella Alonso, Jessica Stroup), among them. Not surprisingly, most of the effort expended on this production revolves around makeup, prosthetics, and special effects. Beyond that, The Hills Have Eyes 2 is a tedious guessing game of which-one-will-the-mutants-get-next, suitable only for hardcore gorehounds. Not recommended. [Note: Available in either R rated or unrated versions, DVD extras include the 13-minute “making-of” featurette “Exploring the Hills,” a “Birth of a Graphic Novel” featurette on the comic book (13 min.), the Fox Movie Channel production “Life After Film School with Wes Craven” (10 min.), a “Mutant Attacks” featurette on the different mutants in the film (10 min.), a four-minute gag reel, four deleted scenes (3 min.), a brief alternate ending, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a dud horror flick.] (E. Hulse)