Movie Review: The Hills Run Red

The Hills Run Red

Rating:  

Directed By: Dave Parker

Starring: Sophie Monk, William Sadler, Tad Hilgenbrink, Janet Montgomery,

Plot Synopsis:

When they hear there’s a complete print of their favorite slasher movie hidden in their hometown’s backwoods, a group of horror movie buffs heads out in search of the celluloid treasure. Once arriving at their destination, they discover that the carnage captured in the movie was completely real, and worse yet, the filmmakers are looking to spill more blood before they’re ready to call “cut.” (Netflix)

Review:

Since 1978′s Halloween, the Slasher flick has been going strong.  I’m actually surprised this sub-genre has continued to thrive.  With The Hills Run Red, New director Dave Parker shows us that there still is some life in this tired genre with a clever script by David J. Schow, John Dombrow and John Carchietta.  We can also welcome an awesome new masked killer to the short list with Babyface.  Yes, a dude who wears a baby mask.  Trust me, it works.

The Hills Run Red isn’t a revelation of Horror, it’s not a game changer.  However, it is a clever premise and a well made slasher flick that plays to the film geek in all of us who love these types of movies.  It’s well shot, extremely well acted (for this type of flick), has a memorable killer and some great gore effects.

Is this a perfect movie? No.  It does have some pacing problems and logistical problems here and there.  (Babyface is either an extremely effective power walker or a teleporter.)  But, The Hills Run Red never is dull.

The acting is also very well done.  I was shocked at how good all the performances were.  The standouts are Tad Hilgenbrink (who hasn’t been in a good movie yet) and Sophie Monk (who hasn’t been in anything worth while either).  Their performances are both believable and compelling.  Another stand out is William Sadler (the bad guy in Die Hard 2), he’s not in the film that much, but when he’s on screen he’s chewing the scenery big time.

The Hills Run Red isn’t a perfect movie, but it’s a fun, nasty and gory.  Ingredients that make up a great Halloween flick.  Don’t be surprised if you see some Babyface costumes this Halloween.  Although, good luck finding a baby doll with a head big enough to cover your face.

Rated R for strong bloody horror violence and torture, grisly images, sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use.