A National Guard squad goes to a New Mexico outpost as part of a routine mission only to find the research camp mysteriously deserted. After spotting a distress signal in the distant mountain range, the team decides to start a search and rescue mission into the hills. Little do they know that these are the very hills that the ill-fated Carter family once visited and that a tribe of cannibalistic mutants lies in wait. This time around, there is an even larger force of evil at work and it is intent on destroying the squad.

"The Hills Have Eyes 2" does not carry on from its predecessor's storyline as originally planned by writer Wes Craven. After the frightening events that befell the Carter family in "The Hills Have Eyes", nothing is derived from the first movie. It begins on a different note and with a different group of people altogether. However, this time around, the choice of actors is somewhat questionable.

A group of National Guard trainees are sent on a routine mission to a New Mexico outpost to deliver some equipment. However, upon arrival, they find that the research camp is deserted, and its scientists missing. Detecting a distress signal from the hills, their sergeant regroups them to form a search and rescue team, much to the soldiers' thrill. And here's where the movie turns into a 'high-school' caper.

Despite being trained soldiers, the men and women of this fascinating band of the US armed forces include personalities you would expect to see in teen flicks like "Mean Girls". There is the standard jock, the blonde airhead, the smart but introverted nerd, the rebel, the joker, the hot South American girl... you get the drift. Perhaps director Martin Weisz needs to drop his music video mindset when embarking on a feature-length effort. The character pool just doesn't cut it anymore.

The cast consists of relatively new and virtual unknowns. Hence, the whole 'high-school' melodrama comes into play. Jessica Stroup, who plays PFC Amber Johnsson (the blonde airhead), is mere eye candy to a substantially gory film. The fact that she appeared previously in TV comedies like "Zoey 101" and "Unfabulous" doesn't deliver much reputation for her role and if we all take a reality check, female soldiers don't always have such pretty hair with a mesmerising 'Pantene' glow. She just doesn't belong in this movie.

Then, there is Michael McMillan as PFC David 'Napoleon' Napoli (the smart but introverted nerd). Hailing from the same acting background as Stroup, McMillan, however, is a collected actor who innately understands his own strengths. McMillan is simply a recipe list to a good old-fashioned performer. Although his role is diluted in this film, his performance provides the central aspect while his co-stars are left teetering to save their own reputation in an otherwise atrocious film. To this I say, "Thank goodness for McMillan".

Much of this celluloid package mirrors its forerunner. The mutants from the hills have become smarter although they are now pining for the primal 'need to breed', a very adolescent facet that contributes to the whole 'high-school' stance. If you do decide to go see this movie, go in early because you don't want to miss the opening scene of a mutant birthing. Ooh... gory.