Episode 25 - The Hills Have Eyes (1977) and The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

In this episode of Chopping It Up, the crew heads into the desert to tackle Wes Craven’s 1977 The Hills Have Eyes and Alexandre Aja’s 2006 remake. They swap meat cleaver ratings, with most agreeing the gritty, low-budget original nails its social commentary and unsettling atmosphere, while the remake delivers competent gore but misses the nuance. Discussion ranges from themes of American exceptionalism, patriarchy, and the blurring line between “civilized” and “savage,” to behind-the-scenes trivia like Michael Berryman’s unique casting and the production move from Nevada to Morocco. As always, cast deep dives, side-quips, and pop culture tangents keep the conversation lively, but the consensus is clear: Craven’s original still has the sharper bite.