December 21st will see the release of Eli Roth’s sophomore effort HOSTEL. This film seems to have divided folks a bit. I have heard great raves and severe criticism. It appears that we will soon all get to make up our own minds. Here is the press release I received today:
Eli Roth’s HOSTEL, a Screen Gems production, will bereleased in theaters stateside December 21, 2005 by Lions Gate Films, themotion picture acquisition, production and distribution arm of Lions GateEntertainment (NYSE and TSX: LGF), it was announced today jointly by Tom Ortenberg, President, Lions Gate Films Releasing, and Clint Culpepper, President, ScreenGems.
Continuing the fruitfulpartnership between Sony / Screen Gems and Lions Gate Films that has includedcollaborations on pictures such as THE PUNISHER, Lions Gate Films will handleNorth American theatrical and television distribution, with Screen Gemsretaining domestic home video and international theatrical distribution rightsto Roth’s film.
Writer-director Eli Rothcollaborated on the film with executive producers Quentin Tarantino, ScottSpiegel and Boaz Yakin, and producers Mike Fleiss (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACARE)and Chris Briggs. Jay Hernandez (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) stars as anAmerican backpacker who becomes entangled in a demented underground torturering.
Taking a much more macabre tone than did Roth’s feature debut CABIN FEVER, HOSTEL is an amalgamation of many of the most terrifying things about human nature and theworld at large, culled from lots of pulpy-but-true stories of international organized crime, human trafficking, and sex tourism. Relentlessly graphicand deeply disturbing, the film is rife with explicit sex and brutal violence that is sure to delight hard core genre fans, and prove difficult to stomach for general audiences.
“I really think that HOSTEL pushes the envelope of the genre, and I am so grateful to have the combined resources of Screen Gems and Lions Gate supporting its release,”said Roth. “It’s a dream come true for a horror film director to work with both of these companies together, as they’re each so highly respected by genre fans. I know they will do an excellent job of putting the film in front the widest possible audience without deemphasizing its intensity.”
“Our previous collaboration with Eli Roth on his feature debut CABIN FEVER was a runaway success, and it’s been far too long since we worked with Quentin Tarantino to make RESERVOIR DOGS into such a DVD classic,” said Ortenberg. “We’re obviously thrilled to be teaming up with each of these filmmakers again, and to be working with them in conjunction with one another is truly an embarrassment of riches for all involved,” added Lions Gate’s Peter Block, President, Acquisitions and Co-Productions.
“Thanks to th combined talents of Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino, HOSTEL is destined to become a horror classic,” predicts Screen Gems’ Culpepper, adding “And we’ve assembled the perfect team to help this film realize its destiny. I’m so happy to be continuing our working relationship with Lions Gate on this particular picture.”
