Week 24: “The Horror of Eli Roth”
On the eve of such great news that The Green Inferno (2014) is finally getting a theatrical release
after being shelved at the last minute last year and the excellent news that he
is in pre-production on the long stuck in development hell adaptation of the hugely
success novel Meg (novel by Steve
Alten), what better time is there than now to take a look at the films of writer/director
Eli Roth?
Although he started as an actor (uncredited) in various
films like The Mirror Has Two Faces
(1996) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park
(1997), it was his debut feature Cabin
Fever (2002) which really put him on the map. He also wrote and acted in the film about
four friends who encounter a stranger suffering from a flesh eating virus which
not only threatens their own lives but their friendships as well. The low budget horror film was filled with
plenty of gore and sex and ushered in the so-called “torture porn” genre
(despite there being more extreme films before it). It was a huge success especially considering
the low budget of the film.
Before going back behind the camera Roth decided to continue
on the sidelines as an actor in Tales from
the Crapper (2004) and 2001 Maniacs
(2005). Despite elevating to director he
also managed to star in Terror Firmer
(1999) and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic
Avenger IV (2000), so, you should see, Roth’s passion would remain in front
of the camera as well as behind it. His
next film was Hostel (2005) which
shocked the industry with its uncompromising violence and its commentary on the
world of underground killing for money.
Like his previous film this is a gritty look at two American tourists
and their friend who run afoul of a murder syndicate. This film was unlike anything American
audiences had ever seen and it was extremely successful with more mainstream
audiences.
Roth quickly followed up the success of Hostel and the good
will and popularity of his faux trailer “Thanksgiving”
(part of the film Grindhouse) with Hostel: Part II (2007). This was a much more refined film in terms of
screenplay, style, art direction, and execution. This was the film that would show audiences
that Roth was becoming a better director with style and something to say. Unfortunately, the torture porn cycle of
films was quickly dying down and this was a less successful film than its
predecessor.
Following Hostel: Part
II’s poor performance at the Box Office Roth would turn his talents to
producing, writing and acting. Over the
next several years he produced The Last
Exorcism (2010), Aftershock
(2012) – which he also acted in, The Man with
the Iron Fist (2012) – which he also wrote, The Last Exorcism Part II (2013), The Sacrament (2013) and most recently Clown (2014) – which he also acted in. As an actor he was also in Death Proof (part of the film Grindhouse), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Piranha
3D (2010), and Rock of Ages
(2012). As a writer he also wrote The Green Inferno in addition to The Man with the Iron Fists.
The Green Inferno
would be Roth’s next feature film behind the camera more than five years after
the release of his last film. This would
be a return to form for the director who was now tackling the cannibal genre of
horror. Unfortunately, for Roth and
audiences the film would be shelved before seeing release in 2014. This did not deter the visionary director who
forged ahead with his next film Knock
Knock (2015) which is also scheduled to be released this year. This film stars Keanu Reeves and is a big
departure for Roth whose films usually have character actors or no stars at
all. The film is getting great reviews
from early screenings and should propel him to more mainstream films, which is
where his latest project Meg comes
into play. Based on the bestselling
novel Steve Alten it is believed that Roth will finally get this film out of
development hell which is where it has been since the rights were purchased the
year the novel was originally published.
Roth’s career is something he redefines at any given
moment. In addition to acting, writing,
and producing films he executive produces several television series and he’s
also created a horror attraction in Las Vegas, among many other ventures. The one common element between all of Roth’s
many ventures is that he loves horror and as an audience member we can be
assured that he will never be predictable and always be innovative.
Actor Alex Winter is best known for his work in The Lost
Boys (1987) and the two Bill & Ted films so most people don’t realized that
he’s also a writer and director. After writing
and directing several short films he and Tom Stern co-directed the oddity
Freaked (1993). Winter stars as Ricky
Coogan, a famous child actor down on his luck who is now prompted to be the
spokesperson for a toxic waste company in South America. With his most trusted friend Ernie (Michael
Stoyanov) and activist Julie (Megan Ward), Ricky finds himself at the laboratory
of Elijah Skuggs (Randy Quaid) who has been using the toxic waste to create and
experiment on people whom unwillingly show up at his property. Ricky, Ernie, and Julie soon find themselves
Skuggs next freaks in his crazy menagerie of toxic created monstrosities that
are kept in a barn out of public view.
