Since his debut in Hollywood, Eli Roth has worn many hats, from director to actor to producer, all while regularly contributing to genre entertainment in some way. His expertise in the field has led to the upcoming six-part AMC Visionaries: Eli Roth’s History of Horror series, as announced at the Television Critics Association press conference recently.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this incredible series. For years, I’ve wanted to create a definitive ‘History of Horror,’ a living record of the genre with interviews from all the greats, old and new,” Roth explained of the series. “Sadly, we lose more of these masters every year and with them go their stories and experiences. This show will serve as a record for future generations — fans and filmmakers alike — to enjoy. I could not be prouder to create this with AMC.”
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Earlier this year, horror fans were shocked at the sudden passing of George Romero, director of Night of the Living Dead and Creepshow, while in 2015, Wes Craven, creator of A Nightmare on Elm Street, passed away. As Roth referenced, many of the greatest horror filmmakers from the ’70s and ’80s are entering their 70s and 80s themselves, with each filmmaker that passes reminding us of the nightmares they’ve given us.
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Roth helped usher in a new wave of films in the early ’00s that both embraced the gruesome practical effects of films from the ’80s while also injecting clever wit with his film Cabin Fever. The film was highly endorsed by Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong, who had also gotten his start in silly splatterfests like Bad Taste and Dead Alive.
Cabin Fever might not have become a box office success, but it caught many studios’ eyes, allowing Roth to get his next film, Hostel, a much wider release. The film would go on to be one of the more memorable widely released horror films of the decade, spawning two sequels, and becoming a go-to reference of what could happen to an American in Eastern Europe if they went home with the wrong girl.
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Following these films, Roth began exploring other aspects of Hollywood, starring in films like Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds, and Piranha 3D. Roth also helped bring Netflix one of its first original horror series with Hemlock Grove, which ran for three seasons.
AMC Visionaries: Eli Roth’s History of Horror is slated to air in 2018.
