Jeb

Jeb is a supporting character in the remake of The Hills Have Eyes.

Biography
Jeb is the remake's counterpart of Fred from the original. He lives out in a gas station in the desert where he has to send tourists to the Hill People for supplies, although he grows more reluctant to continue over time before he finally wants out.

Events of the film
Jeb is first seen at his gas station in the desert waking up out of his bed and wandering outside after hearing a noise. Assuming it to be Ruby, he calls out for her, only to get no answer. He then wanders to the mine entrance and calls out to Jupiter, presumably getting no answer again, since he walks back to his gas station. There, he finds a bag just outside the door. Knowing what this means, he yells out that he no longer wants to assist the Hill People in killing people before going back into the gas station. He takes the bag with him a minute later, to which he finds possessions belonging to the Hill People's previous victims, further upsetting Jeb.

A minute later, the Carters arrive at the station and Jeb comes out to fill up their car. The father, Bob, tells Jeb that he and his family are heading to California, but are passing through the desert instead of taking the California highway. Jeb tells him there's nothing to see in the desert, but still tops up the tank. He then tells the leaving Carters that there is a shortcut through the desert, which later turns out to be a dead-end and in the Hill People's territory. With that, the family leaves.

Death
At nightfall, Bob comes back to see the gas station deserted. He later finds newspapers on the wall detailing military nuclear testing and various disappearances in the desert area, to which Bob concludes that Jeb is somehow tied up in this. He finds a vehicle and starts it, the headlights illuminating the outhouse, where a hysterical Jeb is, calling out Jupiter's name and wielding a shotgun. Bob gets the door open while Jeb, remorseful from all the people he sent to their deaths, explains the situation about the Hill People. Jeb finally laments on the Hill People's misgivings and his failed attempt to help the people they killed before apologizing to Bob.

With that, he commits suicide by blowing his head off with the shotgun.

Differences from the original
While Jeb is virtually the remake's version of Fred from the original, he does have a few differences:


 * Jeb is slightly younger
 * His relationship with the Hill People is unspecified
 * He commits suicide instead of being killed by Jupiter
 * He intentionally lies about the shortcut the Carters take, although he regrets it later
 * He doesn't offer as much info about the Hill People as much as Fred does