ROTTEN TOMATOES: Eli Roth is a Hostel Kind of Guy

Eli Roth is a Hostel Kind of Guy

by Scott Weinberg | April 20, 2006

Like just about every movie site in the known universe, Now Playing recently sat down with horror dude Eli Roth, and the topics discussed include "Hostel 2," Roth's impending adaptation of Stephen King's "Cell," and the young filmmaker's disappointment at having to bypass his intended remake of "The Bad Seed."

A few tidbits from Mr. Roth: “If you’re going to watch the sequel, you know what it is but you kind of want to see more and I want to learn more about this organization and how it works. More like the guys, the Rick Hoffman type businessman. I want to know about him. There’s so much of that world to explore that I just want to go deeper and deeper into [it]."

"That’s kind of the difference but I think the similarity between the classic zombie movies and the zombies in 'Cell' … they’re not going to be stumbling but their faces will be all ripped up and when they get cut they don’t get hurt. They’re just completely out of their minds. They don’t feel it. So the eyeball’s hanging out and flesh from people’s faces [is] ripped off and they’ll just still keep running and trying to kill people."

“'The Bad Seed' is something I’m dying to do but the problem is I don't know when I’m going to do it. And I love the producers so much; they’re really close friends and we want to do it but the truth of the matter is, I don't know if I’m going to be able to do it and I also don’t want to stop them from making it, so it may just have to be one of those things I let go unfortunately.”

For the full interview, check out Now Playing.

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

alsanali writes:
on Apr 20 2006 11:17 AM

"they’re not going to be stumbling but their faces will be all ripped up and when they get cut they don’t get hurt"

How... innovative?

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Merlin235 writes:
on Apr 20 2006 11:54 AM

[b]Whatever[/b]
Eli Roth has got to be one of the least creative directors around. I think he said his movie Hostel was an exploration of overindulgence or some crap like that. I really like the route he took the movie though, since no one has ever made a movie like that (sarcasm should be obvious). It was just an excuse to make a movie with lots of gore. I'm glad he is sticking to the horror genre though; everyone knows horror doesn't have enough crappy directors and crappy films (again, sarcasm should be obvious).

(Reply to this)

CrazyGhost78 writes:
on Apr 20 2006 12:11 PM

In reply to this comment (#834035)
I agree with that post wholeheartedly. Cabin Fever comes out, and Eli is ignored as the hack he is. But what's this? QUENTIN TARANTINO IS EXECUTIVE PRODUCING? OH MY GOD! Quentin gives Eli the money he needs to use way too much gore, and everyone thinks that Eli is brilliant because he makes a gory movie. What the hell?

Anyone could have made Hostel. Anyone. This was not like a Naked Lunch kind of film, something that would not have worked had it been done by another director. Hostel is a stupid, mindless bloody piece of garbage. Shame on Eli for making it, shame on Tarantino for putting money into it, (heres hoping he has the sense to drop out for the second,) and shame on the public for eating this garbage up.

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Sergeant Grimm writes:
on Apr 20 2006 01:35 PM

I liked Cabin Fever alot....I thought it was an innovative horror movie.......I absolutlely loved Hostel, but not because of the gore but because of how it made you feel. Wolf Creek had the "torture" aspect of it, but it was nowhere near as brutal as Hostel. I dont know why you guys have your heads up your asses, either you dont like horror movies or you cant handle the freaking gore. You were probably some of the pussies who walked out or threw up because of how realistic the brutality was. My entire family are horror fanatics and we all loved hostel. That being my point I cant wait till Hostel 2...........Oh, and btw The Hills Have Eyes(remake) is probably the best horror movie I have ever seen and I cant wait for Aja's next movie(sry off topic, just had to be said.)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ashron writes:
on Apr 20 2006 01:47 PM

In reply to this comment (#834036)
And I have it on good authority that Tarantino only loaned his name to this project. He put no money into it whatsoever, so don't worry about that.

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spaz1103 writes:
on Apr 20 2006 02:40 PM

[b]sportswiz is dumb![/b]
Ha, you think people threw up, thats a promotion tool just like MR Q presents hostle.....the SFX in the movie sucked i didn't stop laughing after he got caught onwards cause it was so crap....with the eye thing i almost pissed myself, no kidding then he runs over those people and she throws herself in front of a train..........what shit. wanna movie with gore buy the unrated DEAD ALIVE.

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Decade_e_a writes:
on Apr 20 2006 07:58 PM

Listen here: I'm tired of people complaining about directors (unless it's Michael Bay, because he has YET to make a decent film). I think people need to realize that the horror genre doesn't NEED to be fantastic and innovative as long as you're having fun watching it. Eli Roth made one of the most fun to watch horror films I've ever seen (and I totally agree with Dead Alive, that movie tops all with gore and fun). Stop being so critical of this genre, because it's not supposed to be awe inspiring. It's supposed to be fun and gross. Something you take a girl to so she cowers in your arms and you can be a macho man and get laid that night. Plot and acting NEVER mattered. Its all about the gore and fun.

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ArmyofJuan writes:
on Apr 20 2006 10:04 PM

In reply to this comment (#834041)
I concur for the most part.

Horror movies were never intended to be Schindlers Lists. You watch a horror movie to watch people die in graphic ways, not be awe struck by a pulitzer prize winning story. Even though some horror movies have a good story, thats beside the point.

It's like when some movie critics complain about movies like American Pie as being "juvenile".

Anyways, Hostel was pretty good. And as for the gore factor and how real it looked, i don't know how manyof you have had the priveledge to see eyeballs hanging out of peoples sockets, but that looked pretty realistic to me.

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renny2077 writes:
on Apr 20 2006 10:47 PM

Then how exactly would u classify horror movies like Sixth Sense, Omen, Exorcist, Ring or Rosemary's baby? Horror movies can have pulitzer prize winning stories. It can't be just about gore all the time. I'd watch any movie, including horror, for its story. A well said story really sells the movie. I haven't watched Eli Roth's Hostel yet, but I saw Cabin Fever. The story idea great but the execution was pretty bad that ruined the movie for me. If u want to watch people die in graphic ways - watch Final Destination. It's got a one-liner story.

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Ashron writes:
on Apr 21 2006 06:45 AM

I think some of the confusion is because the definition of what exactly a horror movie is varies. (We're going through this issue with a sales agent right now.) Renny, I would consider all the movies you named as suspense/thriller films, not true horror. To me, a horror movie involves severe bloodshed, lots of death in gruesome ways, and usually monsters or unstoppable killers. Obviously that's my definition and your results may vary. I haven't seen Hostel (it shows up today from Netflix) but I enjoyed Cabin Fever for what it was, which is a goofy romp into goreland. The fact is, whether you liked it or not, Cabin Fever and Hostel both made money, so obviously Eli did something right, because people went to see the movie. I think he is a fine director who wil only get better. After all, he's young, so he has plenty of time to develop his craft.

And of course I learned a long time ago, you can't please everybody, so don't even try.

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Merlin235 writes:
on Apr 21 2006 07:34 AM

[b]Horror[/b]
I think horror is the only category people will actually stupify themselves for. Imagine, you are actually two hours closer to death, and for what? Hostel? Ha, right. Your time would be better spent licking batteries. Horror didn't used to be stupid, it's just stupid now because it is being made by stupid people. Demand more from your directors. If people don't complain about Hostel being crap, they have no right to complain about Michael Bay making crap. Besides, there is something really sick about people watching other people get tortured as entertainment. That's really messed up, even if you know it's 'fake'.

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Ashron writes:
on Apr 21 2006 10:41 AM

I always love it when people immediately decide something is crap just because they happen to not like it. I know several people who don't particularly like Cirizen Kane (myself being one of them) but I appreciate it for the brilliant film it was.

Now before anyone accuses me of comparing Hostel to Citizen Kane, I'm not. That was just the movie that came to mind. My point is, what exactly makes Hostel "crap?" There are many people who considered Friday the 13th crap when it came out. Now it's considered a classic of the genre.

As to it being sick to watch people being tortured, I don't if it's so much as it's human nature. After all, the Romans did it for real, and even the Elizabethians had the Grand Guignol.

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Merlin235 writes:
on Apr 21 2006 12:39 PM

[b]Not like it?[/b]
I don't think people decide it is crap because they don't like it. There are plenty of movies out there that are not to my liking, but I don't think they're crap. Bringing Friday the 13th up isn't helping your case either, since it is a complete rip off of Halloween, which any fan of horror would tell you. If you want to call Halloween a classic (just about threw up in my mouth a little), then fine, go ahead. But Hostel is crap. Complete rip off of the Saw franchise, while trying to pass it off as something exploring the deeper human condition.

And seriously, trying to say watching that stuff isn't sick, 'because the Romans did it for real"???? That really isn't the most sound arguement for it. I don't see the benefit to sitting down and watching people get tortured. That isn't horror, it's disgusting and messed up. If the Nazi's did it for real, and the Romans did it for real, and we find it entertaining.....well, the sadness in that statement should be obvious.

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Ashron writes:
on Apr 21 2006 03:23 PM

I never said it wasn't sad, I just said it was human nature, which is indeed often a sad state of affairs. But where do we draw the line? If watching people being tortured is sick, then isn't watching them being killed in general sick? And if that's sick, then isn't seeing the hurt sick? I guess we just all need to watch Care Bears and never look at another violent act.

Understand, I'm being broad and facetious, because I do understand your point and agree to a certain extent. But remember, one man's sick is another man's intriguing. After all, Passion of the Christ divided people much along this same argument.

And I am a big fan of horror and yes, Friday the 13th was somewhat of a rip-off of Halloween, but at least the ending was a bit of a surprise (at the time. Of course, it seems a bit trite now.) And I just said it was considered a classic "of the genre". Ask horror fans what their favorite movies are and several will say Halloween, followed by Friday the 13th.

And I am just talking out my butt to a certain extent, for the sake of debate. Like I said, I haven't even seen the movie. I may very well agree that it's crap after I see it, in which case I'll owe you an apology ;-)

(Reply to this)

omelette writes:
on Apr 21 2006 03:32 PM

What's up with horror movies these days? Instead of being intelligent and fun and scary, they are ridiculously gory and pointless.

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kfarschman writes:
on Apr 22 2006 01:39 PM

I was dissapointed with Hostel. They built it up like it was soooo scary, but it wasn't at all.

The first half of the movie your stuck with three complete douchbag assholes. The type of idiots that after hitting a bong or chugging a beer will high five each other, you know the type. People that constantly throw the word "gay", and "fag" around and fear anything they don't know. Then you get these clunky, dry, badly executed gore scenes, that is just that, just gore and no scare. Then (spoiler if anyone cares) the Japanese girl kills herself because she lost an eye?? A little over the top. Maybe that would make sense if she was made very vain in her character development, but they didn't. So they are just thinking the audience will justify it by thinking of the bad stereotype that every japanese person is a bad day away from commiting hara-kiri (samurai ritual suicide). Not that it's the only time a stereotype is used to justify an action or motive in the movie.

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spaz1103 writes:
on Apr 23 2006 08:49 PM

Horror films have become the red headed stepchild of the movie industry, "Wanna cheap buck? No plot? Got tits? Got a red liquid substance?" What the fuck! and + to the person who calls "us" sick for watching
A) "We" are curious to how far the movie studios are gonna go with it
B) Its always nice to see the different ways to die, its the underlined contract when making a horror movie that you just have got to out do the last "classic" death
C) It's fake; and if you believe its real, then there's somthing wrong with you.

(Reply to this)

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