The Hills Run Red (2009)

A group of young horror fans go searching for a film that mysteriously vanished years ago but instead find that the demented killer from the movie is real, and he's thrilled to meet fans who will die gruesomely for his art.

Director:

Dave Parker

Writers:

David J. Schow (teleplay), John Dombrow (screenplay: original screenplay)

Stars:

Sophie Monk, Tad Hilgenbrink, William Sadler

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Monk	...	Alexa
Tad Hilgenbrink	...	Tyler (as Tad Hilgenbrinck)
William Sadler	...	Concannon
Janet Montgomery	...	Serina
Alex Wyndham	...	Lalo
Ewan Bailey	...	Sonny
Danko Jordanov	...	Babyface (as Danko Iordanov)
Mike Straub	...	Gabe
Hristo Mitzkov	...	Jimbo
Georgi Dimitrov	...	Lance (as Georgi Dimitrov-Bomba)
Ekaterina Temelkova	...	Sherri
Raicho Vasilev	...	Babyface actor
Itai Diakov	...	Teen Babyface (as Ithai Dyakov)
Petya Ivanova	...	Alexa, age 5
Elene Mshvidobadze	...	Alexa, age 10

Storyline

Tyler is obsessed by the horror movie "The Hills Run Red", considered by those that had seen it the scariest movie ever made, with the deranged serial-killer Babyface in the lead role. However, the director Wilson Wyler Concannon and the movie vanished many years ago and there is no available print. His research is affecting his relationship with his girlfriend Serina that is needy and feels neglected. When Tyler discovers that Concannon's daughter Alexa works in a night-club, he decides to meet her and asks about the missing movie. The woman tells that the movie might be in her father's house in the middle of the woods, and Tyler decides to travel to the spot with Alexa, Serina and their friend Lalo. Along their journey, Tyler films and interviews some locals. During the night, they are attacked by the rednecks, but they are saved by Babyface that kills the assaulters and is controlled by Alexa that runs away from him. Tyler, Serina and Lalo get rid off the ropes, but Tyler decides ...

---

Plot Keywords:

serial murder | son murders father | woods | interview | vomiting | 

---

Taglines:

Trespassers will be slaughtered...

---

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bosque sangriento

Filming Locations:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Premiere,Dark Castle Entertainment,Fever Dreams

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On episode #107 of the Killer POV podcast, the writer of the film, David Schow, states that scenes were cut from the film for content by producers, even though they were in the script. According to David, they have been trying to get all the cut scenes from Warner since the film was released, but have been unable to do so. Cut scenes could include William Sadler's character Concannon naked beating his wife, and a sequence with Babyface raping Serina.

---

Crazy Credits

There's a scene during the end credits.

---

Connections

References Manhunt (2003)

---

Soundtracks

Bubblin' Blood
Written by Dave Grave
Performed by Frankenstein

User Reviews

Decent direct to video slasher, but falls short of the hype

Perhaps I went into it expecting a bit too much having been swept up by the hype train, but aside from a strong third act and a show stealing performance by William Sadler, its hard for me to recommend The Hills Run Red as much more than a movie night rental with friends - even if it is a cut above your typical direct to video horror flick.

The stories premise revolves around Tyler (Tad Hilgenbrink), a film aficionado on the hunt to find a completed print of a lost and legendary 80's slasher film, The Hills Run Red, rumored to be the most brutal and gory little horror gem ever created. Enlisting the help of his girlfriend and best friend, Tyler ventures out into the backwoods in search of the holy grail of gruesome, only to soon discover (as it usually goes with movies in this fine genre of ours) that things aren't quite all that they seem. To say much more would be to potentially give away what story there is and ruin a twist or two that The Hills Run Red works itself up to in the first hour of run time.

Many have compared THRR to a cross between Scream and Wrong Turn, but I'm more inclined to argue it has more in common with John Carpenter's Masters of Horror Episode, Cigarette Burns, than the aforementioned Wed Craven franchise. Fans of the now defunct Showtime series will immediately recognize the not too subtle similarities in the story between Cigarette Burns and THRR, as well as the over the top gore sequences which stand out as big pluses in both films (even if shoddy CGI threatens to ruin a few scenes in the latter). Furthermore, despite being somewhat of a love letter to the horror genre, THRR never quite goes as far in its self awareness and fan boy masturbation as Scream, and quite honestly, this movie is much better off for it. Aside from that, there isn't anything done particularly well here, or at least not better than anything you haven't already seen in any of the source material the film pays homage to. Even the movie's protagonist, "Babyface," looks a bit too inspired by the killer in Dark Ride.

On a positive note, the movie's hands down highlight is William Sadler (most will remember him as Death in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey), who absolutely steals every scene he is in, even if he isn't given enough to do as the lost film's, reclusive and maniacal director. Sadler alone makes the film worth watching, though I'd be hard pressed to recommend The Hills Run Red as more than a rental to be enjoyed with a few friends and a couple of beers. Like other recent direct to video slashers like Hatchet and Laid to Rest, this one comes with a lot of promise but does little to separate itself from the rest of the crop.

Review by Mr. Chainsaw For more of the best genre film reviews, news, opinion articles, and forums, check out www.FromDuskTillCon.com.