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Eli Roth to Garris: ‘I never thought of myself as a horror film maker’

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Eli Roth Mick Garris

Filmmaker Mick Garris does a mostly-weekly podcast called “Post Mortem” that serves up the dish with many prominent people in the horror entertainment industry.

You may already know Garris from behind the camera as director of the TV mini-series “The Stand” as well as with his acclaimed television remake of “The Shining” in 1997.

He has put his touch on many television horror/suspense dramas too such as “Pretty Little Liars” and “Ravenswood.” And helped pen the screenplay for perennial fall favorite Hocus Pocus.

Today Mick is using his voice to delve deeper into the who and why of horror.

His hour-long gabfest serves to peel away some of the layers not often explored because of the exclusivity of the niche. Garris talks to some of the most influential people whose livelihood it is to scare people at a visceral level.

Being immersed in the craft himself allows the golden-haired host a certain comradery therefore getting details from artists who would normally give stock answers to corporate media questions.

This week Mick welcomed millennial favorite Eli Roth into the studio to discuss many aspects of his career and find out what this maverick has in store for the future.

Image result for post mortem with mick garris eli roth

via Post Mortem Podcast

Fifteen years ago, Eli’s inaugural full-length feature “Cabin Fever” was a mixed bag of reviews, but to fans it was an introduction to a new talent who would unabashedly make gore a primary character in most of his films such as “Hostel” and “The Green Inferno.”

“You know I never thought of myself as a horror film maker,” Eli tells Mick at the beginning of the podcast. “And I completely understand why people would refer to me as that because those are the movies I’ve made and that’s what I’m known for. But in my mind I was always telling stories I loved I never thought, ‘Oh I’m a horror film maker,’ I just approached it like this is a story that interests me.”

He goes on to say that forbidden subjects are often his inspiration behind the movies he makes. He says anything considered inappropriate was often enough to feed his compulsions: but they had to be sweetened in cleverness to mask their distaste.

Eli goes on to tell the host that he didn’t make “Green Inferno” because he thought it would be a hit, “I’m making it because I thought, you know…there’s no more unexplored territories in the world anymore. Everything has been geo-tagged and mapped and photographed…I liked the idea of these kind of self-righteous justice warrior kids…the cannibals don’t know the difference, they’re like invaders you’re our food supply.”

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In Cabin Fever Eli says he was like a kid in a candy store, making reference to all the great horror films that had an effect on him.

“There’s something in a first movie that you do where it’s like every little fetishistic thing, like okay the shot on Marcy’s ass is my ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ swing shot, okay this my ‘Night of the Living Dead’ ending with Jeff getting shot…this is my ‘Evil Dead shot’…for super horror fans it’s like reference after reference after reference…”

For his second film the director says he abandoned that thinking and along with his Director of Photography, Milan Chadima, choose not to follow anyone’s influence.

“I made a very conscious choice on Hostel,” says Eli, “I am going to approach every scene on instinct.”

During the interview Garris references Eli’s talents away from the camera. The director has learned classical piano, boxing and with the help of his wife, surfing.

“it’s great to find something you’ve never done that you’re like I’m going to go for this, I’m going to focus on this, I’m going to really lock in and do it.”

Answering a question from a listener about his 2003 animated comedy short “The Rotten Fruit,” Eli says that he would like to do more with the medium.

Image result for eli roth The Rotten Fruit

“I started in animation,” says Eli. “You know, I looked at Terry Gilliam, David Lynch, Tim Burton. A lot of my heroes started with animation. I started with a series actually for WCW wrestling in 1999 called ‘Chowdaheads,’ my friend and I, we wanted to do ‘King of the Hill’ set in Massachusetts and we were going to call it Massholes.”

We have only skimmed the surface of the 60-minute Garris/Roth interview here. Eli speaks about many things in his works that are probably not on any DVD commentary.

With his next film “Death Wish” currently in post-production, Eli doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He has also written the supernatural mystery “Lake Mead” which IMDb says is currently in post-production.

Eli explains his fascination with the genre and what aspects are used in creating the alloys of horror.

“It’s a combination of loving ghost stories,” he explains, “loving scary stories, having a fascination, like sneaking, sitting with a flashlight, reading ‘Skeleton Crew,’ or reading Stephen King in your bed under the covers at night when you’re supposed to going to sleep. But also always having this reflection of well, you know if you’re not careful what can actually happen; what humans are capable of is far worse than anything we can think of in our imagination.”

You can hear Eli’s enlightening interview in its entirety by clicking HERE.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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