The Hills Have Eyes 2
A team of trainees of the National Guard brings supply to the New Mexico Desert for a group of soldiers and scientists that are installing a monitoring system in Sector 16. They do not find anybody in the camp, and they receive a blurred distress signal from the hills. Their sergeant gathers a rescue team, and they are attacked and trapped by deformed cannibals, having to fight to survive.
Despite a moderate budget of $15.0M, The Hills Have Eyes 2 became a solid performer, earning $37.7M worldwide—a 151% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007) exemplifies carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Martin Weisz's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes National Guard trainees at base camp, undisciplined and unprepared, joking around before their routine training mission in the New Mexico desert.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when The team finds the mutilated scientists and realizes they are being watched by something inhuman. Their routine mission becomes a survival situation.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to One of the team members is dragged into the hills by mutants. The team actively chooses to pursue and rescue rather than retreat, committing them to enter the mutants' territory., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The team finds their captured member alive but horribly tortured, and discovers a captive woman who has survived in the caves. False hope—they think they can rescue everyone, but the mutants spring a coordinated ambush, killing several soldiers., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sergeant Jeffrey is killed brutally by the mutant leader. The mentor figure dies, leaving Napoleon and the remaining survivors leaderless and seemingly without hope of escape., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The finale battle through the caves and back to the surface. Napoleon and survivors fight brutally, killing mutants using traps, explosives, and weapons. The climactic confrontation with the mutant leader ends in vicious hand-to-hand combat., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Hills Have Eyes 2's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Hills Have Eyes 2 against these established plot points, we can identify how Martin Weisz utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Hills Have Eyes 2 within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
National Guard trainees at base camp, undisciplined and unprepared, joking around before their routine training mission in the New Mexico desert.
Theme
Sergeant Jeffrey tells the recruits: "Out here, you rely on each other or you don't survive." The theme of unity and mutual dependence in hostile territory is established.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the National Guard unit members, their personalities, conflicts, and inexperience. We see the scientists' distress call from the hills and the team's assignment to deliver supplies to a remote sector.
Disruption
The team finds the mutilated scientists and realizes they are being watched by something inhuman. Their routine mission becomes a survival situation.
Resistance
The team debates what to do—some want to leave immediately, others want to investigate. Sergeant Jeffrey tries to maintain order while they attempt radio contact and assess the threat level.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
One of the team members is dragged into the hills by mutants. The team actively chooses to pursue and rescue rather than retreat, committing them to enter the mutants' territory.
Mirror World
The team discovers the mutants' cave system—a dark mirror of civilization where the rules of humanity don't apply. They encounter evidence of previous victims and realize the scope of evil they face.
Premise
The team navigates the cave system and desert terrain, encountering mutants in various attacks. The "fun and games" of the horror genre—chase sequences, close calls, and creative kills as they hunt and are hunted.
Midpoint
The team finds their captured member alive but horribly tortured, and discovers a captive woman who has survived in the caves. False hope—they think they can rescue everyone, but the mutants spring a coordinated ambush, killing several soldiers.
Opposition
The surviving team members are separated and picked off one by one. The mutants demonstrate intelligence and coordination. Internal conflicts resurface as fear takes over and the chain of command breaks down.
Collapse
Sergeant Jeffrey is killed brutally by the mutant leader. The mentor figure dies, leaving Napoleon and the remaining survivors leaderless and seemingly without hope of escape.
Crisis
Napoleon and the last survivors are trapped in the depths of the cave system, weaponless and exhausted. They must face their terror and decide whether to give up or fight with everything they have left.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale battle through the caves and back to the surface. Napoleon and survivors fight brutally, killing mutants using traps, explosives, and weapons. The climactic confrontation with the mutant leader ends in vicious hand-to-hand combat.