The Hills Run Red (2009)

Story by Johhn Carchietta
Written by John Dombrow & David J. Schow
Directed by Dave Parker

Tyler (Tad Hilgenbreck) is a horror obsessed film student who has his sights set on finding the lost slasher "The Hills Run Red", rumored to be the most violent horror movie ever made. The Director, William Concannon (William Sadler) disappeared around the same time the film was rumored to disappear.

Armed with camping equipment and a few friends, Tyler heads out to find Concannon and the missing film. He starts with Concannon's daughter, the beautiful Alexa (Sophia Myles) who tells him she wants nothing to do with anything involving her father.

Once Tyler manages to get her clean for a few days, she agrees to help him find the spot where he father filmed the movie in the 1980's. Once they get to the area though, people start disappearing, and the kids think they're in a world of trouble when they get rounded up by a group of hillbillies, but everything changes when the killer Babyface, from the lost film, slashes onto the scene and destroys everyone he can.

They find out that Concannon is alive, and still making The Hills Run Red, and that he's been filming the movie in the woods for the past 20+ years. From here, it shares key elements with other self-referential slashers like Hatchet and Behind the Mask, where the characters go through the tropes of a typical horror movie victim.

In the end, the film is well made, with an interesting script, and a fresh take on the meta-slasher. Tad Hildgenbreck's earnestness holds him back from really chewing the scenery, but every moment with William Sadler is a campy treat. Sophia Myles handles herself well in a pretty typical role.

All the technical elements are in place, good sound, interesting photography, and a cool design, but the best parts are the film within the film. The Hills Run Red is a movie I want to see, even though I just saw The Hills Run Red. I want Concannon's version. The real star of the show is the gore, there's plenty of it and the good news is that the large majority of it is done with practical f/x, like the films that are being referenced. A treat for horror fans, others might not find a lot of value in it.

8.9/10 (B+)