Eli Roth Selects His Fab Five Horror Movies

As writer and director of such films as “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel,” Eli Roth is one of the premiere filmmakers in the industry and a true student of the horror genre. Via Daily News Los Angeles, Slasher Studios is proud to showcase Eli Roth’s five favorite horror films.

“Sleepaway Camp” (1983): Ah, “Sleepaway Camp.” I remember watching this film at a sleepover with Lenny Mead and a bunch of friends in the mid-’80s, and when the movie ended we literally stood up out of our chairs and screamed at the top of our lungs until we ran out of air. I will not say why – and don’t go looking up the spoilers on the Internet because that will take all the fun away. Treat yourself to a wonderful surprise. Director Robert Hiltzik’s film is anything but a by-the-numbers, early ’80s, low-budget slasher flick set at a summer camp. The kills are fun, but the ending simply cannot be topped. Don’t read anything about it, just go rent it, pop it in, and watch your friends freak out. This will be the film you guys talk about for weeks after.

“Troll 2” (1990): In the past few years, this has become the most made-fun-of horror movie for many, many reasons, all of which are documented in the excellent film “Best Worst Movie.” The director, the inimitable Italian maestro Claudio Fragasso, had a script that had nothing to do with trolls, but he could get it financed if he changed the title to “Troll 2.” Fragasso let the financiers change the title but refused to change anything else, and as a result there are many goblins, but not a single troll in the entire film. It will take hours to get through this gem because you’ll keep pausing and replaying the lines over and over.

“Troll 2” is one of the rare sequels where you don’t have to waste time watching the first one, since the films have absolutely nothing to do with one another. It has such a strong cult following, it was recently rereleased on Blu-ray for you to enjoy in all its high-definition glory.

“Creepshow” (1982): George Romero was the king of horror then, having made the classics “Night of the Living Dead” and “Dawn of the Dead,” Stephen King was the scariest author on the planet (and still is, as far as I’m concerned), and Tom Savini had upset nearly every parent in America by creating the goriest makeup effects in the nastiest horror films of the golden era. The three of them teamed up to create an old EC Comics-style scarefest that is “Creepshow.”

The movie, told in five stories, is designed to look like a comic book, but it is creepy. And disgusting. And really, really fun. Plus it’s an anthology so you don’t really have to pay attention, and if you’re not that into the story, a new one will be on in 10 minutes. I watch it now and find myself saying things like, “Look, Ed Harris with hair!” An amazing cast, incredible script, brilliant makeup effects and nonstop fun. A very underrated horror movie that’s a guaranteed good time.

“Zombi 2” (1980): One of those rare sequels that isn’t actually a sequel.

It was just called “Zombi 2” because, in Italy, “Dawn of the Dead” was released under the title “Zombi,” and the producers wanted to trick people into thinking this was the second one, even though the two films have nothing to do with each other. Other than zombies, that is.
“Zombie,” as it’s commonly known in the United States, has grown over time to be one of the most beloved zombie movies, with scenes of gore so spectacular and horrifying they still stand head and shoulders above any zombie movie made since. Lucio Fulci is one of my all-time favorite directors, and whenever I film a particularly gory scene, we all close our eyes and try to channel him for inspiration. “Zombi 2” has the greatest scene ever committed to celluloid, and is actually responsible for the modern movement of zombie films. Nothing comes close to it, which is why the die-hard horror nerds like me wear T-shirts that say “Viva Fulci!” A must-see for any zombie apocalypse fan.

“Pieces” (1982): Watching this film with a crowd is the most fun experience I have ever had watching a movie. I showed it to a packed house at a film festival I held a few years ago, and people had so much fun that, afterward, they were actually depressed they’d never have that good a time at the movies again. This was the movie where on the poster you saw a chain saw, a stitched-up dead girl, and the tagline: “It’s exactly what you think it is.” Some movies don’t exactly live up to their poster. Juan Piquer Simon’s does. But “Pieces” is also one of the craziest, most random and insane slasher films ever made. You think you have it figured out and then the film blindsides you. There are many, many classic scenes, like the infamous tennis match, which has some of the best extras casting in the history of cinema.

“Pieces” truly is my favorite slasher film of all time, and it’s the one movie that never fails to have the audience totally entertained from start to finish. It’s also got an ending to rival “Sleepaway Camp.” I am almost sorry you are going to watch “Pieces” because pretty much any moviegoing experience after will be a letdown.

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A Slasher Studios Look At Hollywood Horror Trends

For those of you who may have missed it on tonight’s Slasher Studios Web Cast, Kevin Sommerfield and Steve Goltz will be discussed the recent trends in Hollywood Horror. We will be talked about the Hollywood 3D craze, slasher vs. supernatural as well as the remake controversy and the PG-13 vs R horror debate. Click on the link below to check out an archive of the show and make sure to tune in next week when we have a FULL LENGTH commentary of the horror film “Trick R Treat”. Same time, Sunday at 10PM central. Stay tuned for more details!


http://www.blogtalkradio.com/slasherstudios

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“Obliquity: Imagery of the Unknown”

We here at Slasher Studios are always excited to hear about other new horror filmmakers and their projects. We are excited to bring you one of those filmmakers today. His name is Anthony Rory Tran and his newest film is the exciting “Obliquity: Imagery of the Unknown”.

The synopsis: “The world has began to change in mysterious ways. For Tiffany Hayes, society has shown selfishness and departure from all things pure; even her own friends don’t seem to understand what she is going through. In a community college, a sleep deprivation study assignment is given to Tiffany so that she can understand her mind on a whole new level. What she begins to see are layers beyond common reality. A new group of students are then given the same assignment after learning what she’s been through to see if she was just a little crazy, or if these forces truly exist. During the 3 days they stay awake, they are exposed to different parts of their mind, and what they discover, is more than they could ever imagine.”

Tran adds, “What is interesting about Obliquity is that I’m including dark experiences faced in my life and the life of people I’ve met. The story stays very down-to-earth, whether it’s the way people talk in the movie, or how the story unravels, the exposure of forces layered unseen will be a breath-taking journey you won’t want to miss being a part of.”

Tran is quite passionate about the project. Here he speaks about what the project means to him:

Below is a link to the teaser trailer of “Obliquity: Imagery of the Unknown”:

We wish Tran and his cast/crew the best of luck with their film and we are excited to see what they come up with next.

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Ten Random Horror Facts About Me…Part 2

Sorry for the delay. Been putting in extra hours at work and haven’t had the time to update my list as I thought I was going to. Sorry here is No.’s 5 thru 1 for your enjoyment. :)

5. I love it when TV Shows do a random episode around Halloween that is somehow horror theme. You know it’ll all end up being a joke or a dream and no one will die but somehow that only adds to the enjoyment and fun of it all.

4. I have a soft spot for horror sequels. When they take out the plot, amp up the murders, and dumb down the characters….all of this should be a recipe for disaster but somehow, in horror, it all works. Some are even better than the originals! Case in point…

3. I don’t mind horror remakes as long as they are rated R and add something new to the story. I think Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” is the best of the new crop and I have to admit I am one of the few horror fans (maybe the ONLY one) that actually enjoys it more than the original. His sequel is actually pretty damn good too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5BKb7Ojqnw

2. Heather Langenkamp is my favorite horror movie Scream Queen. It’s a bit sad that she wasn’t able to use her work in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series to get more work. She is tough, resourceful, and independent. Three traits missing in most horror movie heroines today. Plus I have a lot of affection for her short lived sitcom “Just the Ten of Us”. After all, what other show in history feature three Freddy girls?!?! Gotta love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwNV5pLIHS8

1. Nothing in the world can cure a bad day like a good horror movie. Horror movies lift the spirit, shows that good can triumph over evil, and that being a good person at heart can truly save the day.

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Ten Random Horror Facts About Me

10. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was the first horror movie I ever saw at the tender age of 5. It scared the bejesus out of me so much that I refused to go to bed that night and stayed up for nearly thirty hours. It took me nearly a decade before I was able to watch the film again.

9. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is my favorite horror series. Though the later sequels do suffer from a drop in quality (especially parts 5 and 6), I feel as if this horror series was the most consistently creative and that Freddy is still one hell of a bad guy.

8. “Black Christmas” is the best horror movie I’ve ever seen. Some give the credit to “Halloween” but that simply is not fair. “Black Christmas” did it first and did it better. It is the grandmother of the slasher film, four years before “Halloween”. “Black Christmas'” power is impossible to deny; its characters are compelling, the imagery poignant, and the acting top-notch.

7. “Poltergeist III” is my ultimate guilty pleasure. It’s stupid, over-the-top, and complete and utter nonsense. But I cannot deny that I love it so.

6. I don’t enjoy zombie or possession movies. I just don’t find either genre of horror to be all that interesting. Though I cannot deny the power of “The Exorcist” or the sheer joy that I get out of watching “Night of the Creeps.” Well “Return of the Living Dead 2” does hold a special place in my heart. If only for this scene:

#5 -#1 Coming Tomorrow :)

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