I don't think it was watered down at all. I'm not a bit fan of the original, so I wasn't expecting much from the remake; but if anything, the new version is better.
The tone is inconsistent. Much of it is too grueling for the average audience, but gorehounds will love it. Sometimes the movies goes all "aint-it-cool" on us and we're supposed to get a campy kick out of how sick and gorey it is (you laugh and say I can't believe they showed that!) Then it stops being scary and turns into a Charles Bronson revenge pic when the heroes turn the tables.
If made me think of the old joke: "If you don't like the weather here, wait fifteen minutes." If you don't like what you're seeing on screen in HILL HAVE EYES, just wait fifteen minutes, becuase it will change into something else.
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