Blood Sand and Fire The Making of The Hills Have Eyes Part II ( 2019 )

Blood, Sand, and Fire: The Making of The Hills Have Eyes Part II (2019)

Alexandre Aja's 2006 remake of Wes Craven's 1977 cult classic, The Hills Have Eyes, was a brutal and unflinching reimagining that resonated with audiences looking for visceral horror. Its success paved the way for a sequel, The Hills Have Eyes Part II, released in 2007. But the story of how that sequel came to be, and the challenges faced during its production, is a tale often overlooked. In 2019, a documentary titled Blood, Sand, and Fire: The Making of The Hills Have Eyes Part II shed light on the turbulent process, revealing the creative struggles, logistical nightmares, and ultimately, the compromises that shaped the final product. This article delves into the documentary's insights, exploring the key players, the initial vision, the impact of budget constraints, and the film's eventual reception.

The Seeds of a Sequel: Craven's Involvement and the Initial Vision

Unlike many horror sequels that feel detached from their source material, The Hills Have Eyes Part II had the direct involvement of Wes Craven himself. Craven, the original creator, crafted the story and wrote the screenplay alongside his son, Jonathan Craven. This provided a crucial link to the original film and helped establish a thematic continuity, even if the execution differed significantly.

The initial vision, as revealed in the documentary, was ambitious. The story focused on a group of National Guard soldiers who stumble upon the mutant clan from the first film while on a training mission in the New Mexico desert. This offered an opportunity to explore the mutants in greater detail, delving into their culture, motivations, and the reasons behind their violent behavior. The filmmakers aimed to create a more action-oriented horror film, building upon the suspense and gore of the first film with a heightened sense of military combat and tactical strategy.

According to interviews in Blood, Sand, and Fire, Craven envisioned a deeper exploration of the themes he introduced in the original, such as the inherent savagery that can exist within both civilized society and the other. The National Guard element was meant to serve as a microcosm of American military interventionism, contrasting their perceived order and discipline with the brutal reality of the mutant clan's existence. The documentary highlights that Wes Craven wanted the film to explore the idea of dehumanization and how war affects the human psyche. The mutants, while undeniably monstrous, were also portrayed as victims of circumstance, products of a toxic environment and societal neglect.

However, as the project progressed, these ambitious ideas faced significant hurdles, leading to compromises that ultimately altered the final shape of the film.

Alexander Aja's Departure and Martin Weisz's Arrival

One of the earliest and most impactful changes was the departure of Alexandre Aja. Fresh off the success of the remake, Aja was initially slated to direct the sequel. However, creative differences and scheduling conflicts led to his decision to step down. This left the studio searching for a new director to helm the project.

Ultimately, the directorial reins were handed to Martin Weisz, a German filmmaker known for his horror film Rohtenburg (also known as Grimm Love), a controversial film inspired by the Armin Meiwes cannibalism case. Weisz's selection signaled a shift in direction, with the studio perhaps seeking a director known for pushing boundaries and exploring extreme themes. However, as the documentary reveals, Weisz faced considerable pressure and limitations throughout the production process.

Blood, Sand, and Fire paints a picture of Weisz as a director caught between the studio's expectations for a commercially viable horror film and his own artistic vision. While he attempted to incorporate elements of psychological horror and character development, he was ultimately constrained by the demands for more action and gore. The documentary suggests that Weisz's experience on The Hills Have Eyes Part II was a challenging one, as he struggled to reconcile his creative ambitions with the realities of a studio-driven sequel.

Budget Constraints and Production Challenges

Like many horror sequels, The Hills Have Eyes Part II faced significant budget constraints. The documentary highlights the limitations imposed on the production, impacting everything from set design to special effects. The filmmakers were forced to make compromises in order to stay within budget, which inevitably affected the quality and scope of the film.

One of the major challenges was the location. While the original remake utilized Morocco to create the desolate and unforgiving landscape of the New Mexico desert, the sequel was primarily filmed in Bulgaria. This decision was driven by budgetary considerations, but it presented its own set of challenges. The Bulgarian landscape, while visually appealing, lacked the specific characteristics of the American Southwest, requiring the filmmakers to rely on creative camera angles and post-production effects to create the illusion of the New Mexico desert.

The documentary also reveals the difficulties faced by the special effects team. While the original remake was praised for its practical effects and realistic gore, the sequel had to rely more heavily on CGI due to budgetary limitations. This resulted in some visual effects that appeared less convincing, diminishing the overall impact of the film's violence. Blood, Sand, and Fire includes interviews with special effects artists who express their frustration with the constraints they faced and their disappointment with the final results.

Furthermore, the documentary touches upon the challenges of working with a large ensemble cast of relatively inexperienced actors. While the actors were enthusiastic and committed to their roles, they often required more guidance and support, which added to the demands on the director and the production team. The demanding physical nature of the shoot, which involved long hours in the harsh desert environment, also took a toll on the cast and crew.

The Compromised Vision: From Psychological Horror to Action-Oriented Gore

The combination of directorial changes, budget constraints, and studio interference resulted in a film that deviated significantly from the initial vision. The nuanced themes and psychological elements that Wes Craven had intended to explore were largely sacrificed in favor of more straightforward action and gore. The documentary highlights how the film became more of a generic slasher film with a military backdrop, losing much of the intellectual and emotional depth that Craven had hoped to achieve.

Blood, Sand, and Fire presents a compelling case that the final product was a result of numerous compromises and concessions. The studio, driven by the desire to replicate the financial success of the remake, prioritized shock value and visceral thrills over character development and thematic exploration. This led to a film that was arguably more exploitative and less thought-provoking than its predecessor.

The documentary features interviews with members of the cast and crew who express their disappointment with the final product. They acknowledge that the film had the potential to be something more meaningful, but that the various challenges and compromises ultimately prevented it from reaching its full potential.

Reception and Legacy

The Hills Have Eyes Part II received mixed to negative reviews upon its release. Critics generally praised the film's gore and action sequences but criticized its shallow characters, predictable plot, and lack of originality. Many reviewers felt that the film failed to live up to the standards set by the remake and that it lacked the intelligence and thematic depth of the original Wes Craven film.

Despite the critical backlash, The Hills Have Eyes Part II was a modest commercial success, grossing over $67 million worldwide on a budget of $15 million. This demonstrated the continued appeal of the franchise and the enduring fascination with the mutant clan. However, the film's negative reception likely contributed to the decision not to pursue further sequels in the same vein.

Blood, Sand, and Fire: The Making of The Hills Have Eyes Part II offers a valuable behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of making a horror sequel. It reveals the compromises that are often necessary to navigate the complexities of studio filmmaking and the impact that these compromises can have on the final product. While The Hills Have Eyes Part II may not be considered a classic of the horror genre, the documentary provides a fascinating insight into the creative and logistical struggles that shaped its creation.

Key Players Table

Production Details Table

Documentary Insights Table

Critical Reception Summary Table

Thematic Elements (Intended vs. Actual) Table