A group of raw and wet behind the ears National Guard trainees run afoul of a family of savage predatory mutants in the desert. Director Martin Weisz, working from a compact script by Wes and Jonathan Craven, relates the engrossing story at a snappy pace, maintains a go-for-the-throat gritty tone throughout (both the opening monster birth scene and a harsh rape sequence are quite nasty and hard to watch), delivers a handy helping of in-your-face unflinching graphic gore, makes fine use of the sprawling and desolate desert location, and generates a good deal of tension. The solid acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: Michael McMillian as wimpy pacifist Napoleon, Daniella Alonso as the sassy Missy, Jessica Stroup as the feisty Amber, Lee Thompson Young as the gutsy Delmar, Flex Alexander as the hard-nosed Sarge, Jacob Vargas as the hot-tempered Crank, and Jeff Kober as the foulmouthed Redding. Moreover, the mutants are really fearsome and grotesque, with Michael Bailey Smith as brutish patriarch Papa Hades, Derek Myers as the vicious Chameleon, Gaspar Szabo as the relentless Sniffer, and David Reynolds as the kindly and helpful Hansel rating as the most memorable of the beastly bunch. Both Sam McCurdy's crisp widescreen cinematography and the spirited shuddery score by Trevor Morris are up to par. A satisfying follow-up.
Review of The Hills Have Eyes 2
