Year: 1977
Runtime: 89 min
Language: English
Director: Wes Craven
While traveling through the desolate New Mexico desert, a National Guard unit discovers an abandoned research facility. Investigating further, they unknowingly awaken a savage tribe of cannibalistic mutants who inhabit the surrounding mountains. The soldiers must now fight for their lives against the brutal and relentless creatures in a desperate battle for survival.
Get a spoiler-free look at The Hills Have Eyes (1977) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the unforgiving expanse of the New Mexico desert, a National Guard unit rolls deep into isolation, tasked with a routine transit that quickly turns into a desperate scramble for answers. The stark, sun‑bleached landscape is broken only by the skeletal remains of forgotten installations, and the air hums with a palpable sense of abandonment. When the soldiers stumble upon a rust‑caked research facility hidden among the dunes, the building’s silent corridors and half‑collapsed labs hint at secrets that were meant to stay buried.
The moment they breach the facility’s outer doors, an ancient threat awakens from the shadowed depths of the surrounding mountains. A savage tribe of cannibalistic mutants, twisted by the very experiments once conducted within those walls, begins to stir. The atmosphere shifts from uneasy curiosity to raw, unrelenting dread, as the desert’s vast openness morphs into a hunting ground where every echo could be a predator’s breath. The tone is bleak and tense, blending the stark beauty of the landscape with an ever‑present menace that refuses to be ignored.
Against this hostile backdrop, the soldiers must confront both the unforgiving environment and the feral creatures it now shelters. Their training and camaraderie are tested as they scramble to understand the scope of the danger while grappling with the isolation that the desert imposes. The story promises a relentless battle for survival, where every decision could mean the difference between life and an untimely end, and where the line between hunter and hunted blurs amid the haunting silence of the New Mexican wasteland.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:14
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Ordinary people pushed to their absolute limits by relentless attackers.If you liked the relentless terror and desperate struggle in The Hills Have Eyes, you'll find more movies here featuring characters under siege. These stories focus on ordinary people fighting for their lives against savage threats in confined, dangerous environments.
The narrative follows a simple but intense structure: a group is isolated, a savage threat is introduced, and the rest of the film is a series of brutal attacks and desperate countermeasures. The focus is on the immediate physical and psychological battle, with character depth often secondary to the visceral survival experience.
Movies are grouped here based on their shared premise of a confined siege, the high intensity of relentless violence, and a dark tone centered on primal fear and survival. They deliver a similar viewing experience of sustained terror and grueling conflict.
Where the environment itself becomes a character of menace and dread.Explore movies similar to The Hills Have Eyes where the terrifying setting is a key element. These films use desolate, harsh environments like deserts or wilderness to create a powerful sense of isolation and amplify the threat, making the landscape a source of primal dread.
The narrative often begins with characters entering a vast, unfamiliar, and inhospitable environment. The setting quickly shifts from backdrop to active antagonist, limiting resources, providing hiding places for threats, and creating a pervasive atmosphere of isolation and inescapable danger that drives the plot.
These movies are connected by their emphasis on a hostile, isolating setting as a primary source of terror. They share a mood of oppressive dread and the theme of humans being stripped of civilization and confronted with primal dangers in an unforgiving world.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Hills Have Eyes in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Hills Have Eyes is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of The Hills Have Eyes, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Hills Have Eyes with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Hills Have Eyes. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Hills Have Eyes: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Hills Have Eyes that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
The Hills Have Eyes (1977) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
The Hills Have Eyes (1977) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
The Hills Have Eyes (1977) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like The Hills Have Eyes – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
The Hills Have Eyes (2006) Full Movie Breakdown
The Hills Have Eyes II (2007) Complete Plot Breakdown
I Spit on Your Grave (2010) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1985) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Eaten Alive (1977) Full Summary & Key Details
The Beast Within (1982) Full Summary & Key Details
Hellbilly (2003) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Hillside Cannibals (2006) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Welcome to the Jungle (2007) Full Summary & Key Details
Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) Film Overview & Timeline
Eaten Alive! (1980) Complete Plot Breakdown
Cannibal Terror (1980) Full Summary & Key Details
Grotesque (1988) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Hills Run Red (2009) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Sadist (1963) Detailed Story Recap