'The Hills Have Eyes Part 2': Actually... Kinda Good?

Okay, okay, before you all grab your pitchforks, hear me out. I just rewatched 'The Hills Have Eyes Part 2' (yeah, that one), and I'm genuinely starting to think everyone's been way too harsh on it. I mean, granted, the flashback scenes are basically just stock footage from the first movie – talk about cheap – and the blind character, Cass, stumbling around is...questionable, to say the least. But something about it... it holds a certain charm. Maybe it's the sheer audacity of Wes Craven phoning it in after the supposed brilliance of the original. Or maybe it's the fact that it's so hilariously bad, it circles back around to being good? I'm not sure. But I found myself actually enjoying the ridiculousness of it all. Michael Berryman's Pluto is still creepy as hell, even with the lower budget effects, and the whole plot with the motocross team and the super-fuel is so bizarre it's almost genius. Plus, the dog, Beast, gets to be a hero again! Who doesn't love a heroic dog? Look, I'm not saying it's a cinematic masterpiece. It's far from it. But in a world of overly polished, predictable horror sequels, 'The Hills Have Eyes Part 2' stands out as a monument to low-budget, schlocky fun. It's the kind of movie you watch with a group of friends, armed with popcorn and a healthy dose of irony. Don't go into it expecting high art, go into it expecting a good laugh. You might just be surprised. And honestly, is it really THAT much worse than some of the other garbage horror sequels we've been subjected to over the years? I'm just sayin'...