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'Hostel' set visit

Interviews and a set report from Eli Roth's sick, twisted and depraved new film, 'Hostel'.

Jun 9 2005

Eli Roth Q&A.

Jay Hernandez Q&A.

Derek Richardson Q&A.

'I want to make a movie that's too scary for people to see. That's terrifying like 'The Exorcist' was. That's the goal. I don't know if I will achieve it but you should at least go for it.'

So says Eli Roth of 'Hostel', his forthcoming follow-up to the 2003 global horror hit 'Cabin Fever'.

Holed up in a huge studio on the outskirts of Prague, the writer-director spent most of April and May making the movie, and we spent some quality time on set to find out first-hand what depravity he has planned.

Perched in front of the director's monitor as he organises the first set-up of the day, Roth tells Time Out that the inspiration for 'Hostel' came, in part, from Quentin Tarantino and 'Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles.

Knowles chipped in first, when the pair were discussing horror some years back, and the subject of 'sick shit' on the internet cropped up; in particular certain sites that offered the opportunity to indulge in some extremely violent, serious and illegal acts in exchange for large sums of money.

Roth was intrigued by the notion, investigated further and before long the idea for 'Hostel' was born.

He showed what he had to Tarantino, and the man who killed Bill was immediately enthused by the concept, apparently saying: 'That's the fucking scariest, fucking sickest idea I've ever heard – you've got to do it!'

The pair threw about several ideas late last year, and in no time at all the project was in motion and Eli was plunging head-first into the world of hardcore horror.

'I just sat down and wrote the sickest, most violent thing I could,' he explains between set-ups. 'Within weeks it was ready to go – I wrote it to be set in Eastern Europe with Eastern European actors, two Americans [Jay Hernandez and Derek Richardson] and one from Iceland [newcomer Eythor Gudjonsson]. I then flew to Prague, interviewed production people, met with a really good team of co-producers and here we are!'

Time Out visits the set on day 21 of a 38 day shoot, and although Roth assures me that the film does have some light moments (particularly in the first half), what TO witnesses has a seriously dark and sombre tone.

The bulk of today's action takes place in a small, sinister room that resembles a primitive, medieval dungeon. Perverse instruments of torture adorn the walls and in the middle sits a lone chair, which as the day goes on becomes a throne of terror on which one of the film's characters experiences insufferable and indescribable pain.

It's shocking stuff, a million miles away from the enjoyably light-hearted tone of 'Cabin Fever', and it's immediately clear that the graphic violence will cause quite a stir when the film is released later in the year. I ask Roth why he didn't play it safe and make 'Cabin Fever 2' instead of taking a chance with such relentlessly grim material.

'I made this movie because I want people to think about what the fuck we're doing – where society is going in terms of exploitation and pornography,' he explains.

But judging from the ultra-violence being shot today, won't he be the one accused of such exploitation?

'Everything in the movie is set up very carefully,' he quickly shoots back 'Anyone who criticises this movie for exploitation – I'll find a hundred reasons to shut down their argument as to why its there. It's no accident that these guys are American, that they are very sexist in their attitude towards women, and that the things that they feel about the girls in Eastern Europe is very much based in American fantasies and stereotypes. Everything comes back to bite them in the ass though; they definitely pay for it.'

And in the scenes being shot on this particular day, pay for it they do, and in kind.

Intense, horrific violence bursts forth upon the monitor at regular intervals, and although I can't go into exact details for fear of giving the plot away, it's fair to say that Roth inflicts human suffering of the most devestating kind on his characters.

Feeling a little queasy at the site of it all, I take a break and head to the KNB special effects trailer, where Howard Berger and Kevin Wasner are busy creating blood-drenched splatter and mess for the movie.

One look at their work confirms my suspicions – the parade of prosthetic arms, legs and torsos, punctured and maimed with increasingly horrific injuries, reinforces the fact that when the violence does kicks in, 'Hostel' will contain some of the most explicit and extreme scenes of carnage ever to appear in a mainstream film.

After the gruesome twosome have shown me around, Berger is kind enough to pass me a ball-gag puking device, the likes of which I thought never to see during my short time on this earth. 'We've done piss, blood and vomit so far' he explains, 'In fact, shit is the only bodily fluid we haven't done on 'Hostel' yet.’

Impressed with this fact, but deciding I no longer feel like joining the cast for dinner, I instead corner Eli to ask him just how he expects such material to get an R-rating.

'I just don't know', he confides, 'I think this movie can be made very well for an R, and I’ll have my 18 for England and my director's cut for DVD. But after seeing some of the stuff I've shot, it's pretty horrifying and I'm pretty nervous. Whatever – I'll go out and make the best film I can and fight that battle when it comes.'

We then discuss the movies that inspired 'Hostel', namely 'The Vanishing', 'Sympathy for Mr Vengeance', 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', 'The Wicker Man' and 'Audition'; all films that shocked and stunned audiences worldwide on their initial release. Is this what Roth is aiming for?

'The way I think about it is you want to be the one that sets the bar that everyone imitates. I'm not saying I will, but that's what you go for. You want to be the one that re-writes the book; that makes all other horror directors go "I wish I'd made that!"

'And in the current horror landscape, I can tell you that there will not be another film that's as intense and sick as this one!'

With that, Roth is called back to the set to shoot the final, devastating, scene of the day, and I follow him to get my last glimpse at horror, 'Hostel'-style.

But even though this final shot is brief, it's one that will live long in the memory, involving a helpless victim, a flash of chainsaw, a rush of blood and… well, you’ll just have to buy a ticket and see for yourself when the film hits cinemas at the end of the year!

UPDATE: To read about Eli's proposed Stephen King adaptation, click here.

User comments on this story

Martin said...

Of course it's a horror movie and not a portrayal of Slovakia which I'm sure is a lovely place to visit - haven't been there myself 'though yet Posted on Sep 04 2006 11:57

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Anna said...

What a film! Really nasty scary stuff! It terrified me as I tried to imagine the fear that must be within these people as they are faced with the sickest torturers going! I am now shit scared of ever going to that part of the country! Posted on Aug 21 2006 15:12

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hannah said...

i think hostel is a fantastically clever comment on a certain mentality that is scarily pervading our society. I dont think its supposed to be a classic but it delivers exactly what its set out to. It not only expresses a mentality but it actually shows it in action, it demonstrates it in an extreme situation. Whether the violence is 'gratuitous' is entirely dependent on the political subverted message isnt it? The question is redundant. So although i found it particularly unsettling i think it was one of the most subtly clever films that is quite a test on the viewer in terms of understanding the point. A salute to Eli Roth. (and quentin- whats going on- this film has a dual autership..like a double imprint of tarantino and roth- hard to achieve) Posted on Aug 12 2006 19:33

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Jason Harper said...

I am an American living in slovakia for more than a year. This movie was very offensive to me so I feel how the good people of slovakia must be feeling. Absolutely this film is a horrible portral of slovakia and the people. Slovakia is a beautiful place with very great people. I am ashame to be an America at times. This don't help our image much does it? Posted on Aug 09 2006 22:08

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Brian Westlake said...

Brilliant movie with lovely cheap sluts. There should be more slut scenes. Posted on Jul 31 2006 13:11

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Fluff1818 said...

This is the sickest, most disgusting "thing" ever. Only a sick mind could conceive such sickness. An absolutely pointless movie! Don't waste your time. Posted on Jul 30 2006 18:56

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kreso said...

Damn, this is great movie... Yes, the americans are little unreal, i'm sure slovakia is great country, but there is some truth in all this. Underground mafia and all that is not just a fiction. This movie warns people on possibility that you wake up tied to a chair while some rich maniac is prepareing his saw to cut you like a pig... Posted on Jul 02 2006 21:06

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greg said...

I had no thoughts about Slovakia at all before, but after reading all the posts of people taking a horror film as a literal indictment of your culture, I now think people in Slovakia are angry pea brains.
How about the fact the americans were shown to be shallow, clueless arrogant fratboys? True for too many, but it's still a stereotype. Where were the decent americans? The killers were from Japan, America, and Czech - where are the protestors in their name?
About the film - it sucked -as 99% of horror films do, but it is horrifying to consider it was inspired by a real website in Thailand. The director said he wanted to a documentary but that would be too dangerous. Wow, Thais must all be crazy torture-factory owners!! Don't go there unless you want to die! Posted on Jun 19 2006 17:16

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Pedro said...

Hey people...wake up! This is just a film!
Slovakia continues to be a lovely place with lovely people...Europe will continue having lovely and idiot people, like United States, like the rest of the world...
Congratulations to the director for creating so much controversy Posted on Jun 07 2006 19:04

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Sonia said...

If I always was negative about visiting other foreign countries, this movies surely makes me stay in the U.S. maybe even in my Texas State, maybe not even travel at all. Posted on May 26 2006 22:09

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faisal said...

'Another American Shit'...it doesn't worth a single penny....i will not sugest any one to watch it even if its free..guy's save ur time coz time is money .good luck Posted on May 15 2006 23:32

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Mike Shwag said...

By the way, Americans are not wankers. Most of the euro trash posted on this site insinuates the director was trying to portray an exact reality. Which he by no means ever attempts to do on or off film. Subsequently it is just a MOVIE and there was still enough realism to peak your curiosity nonetheless. Perhaps there were indeed some similarities in the film that offend the typical european. Ha! America rules Posted on May 14 2006 01:07

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Mike Shwag said...

This movie is good for horror or suspense fans, not very scary but more gory and sick. I like the way Roth set up the movie, but dont think this attempt quite achieved what he was looking for. nice try tho Posted on May 14 2006 00:59

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Robin said...

the movie was awsome and it has nothing to do with sickness or anything else like that. every single movie, no matter if it's funny or sad, it's just a picture and the director painted it just like da vinci painted mona lisa. u can't say someone is sick just because u don't like the picture or don't understand the painter. all i can say it's "express ur self" go on eli roth. looking forward to see hostel 2! Posted on May 04 2006 18:53

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Dan M said...

This was an amazing film! By far my favorite movie of all time. And after seeing it...watching the DVD extras and all....I Would love to visit Prague. The place is beautiful and I cannot wait to go on vacation there. Posted on Apr 25 2006 20:28

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