Cinema Strikes Back - Covering the World of Film

Torture As Entertainment In Today’s Cinema

Posted on 02.06.06 by David @ 10:11 am

Hostel Wolf Creek Devil's Rejects Saw II

I agree with Edelstein that there is a fundamental difference in the quality of sadism between movies like Hostel and Irreversible, and goofy ’80s slashers like the Friday the 13th series. However, I don’t draw the distinction between what is being shown now and what was being shown in the ’70s in films like Last House on the Left , I Spit on Your Grave, and the old Italian cannibal and zombie films. The budgets may be bigger these days, but that is true of what used to be B-Movies in general. If a B-picture like Van Helsing is getting a full Hollywood budget, it is not surprising that Hostel is too. I don’t think that the movies have changed, but I do agree that the degree to which these movies are being embraced by a wider audience has, though perhaps it should not be too surprising, when a show like 24, which regularly features torture, and a show like CSI, which features extreme gore, are huge mainstream hits.

::: Now Playing at Your Local Multiplex: Torture Porn
David Edelstein, New York Magazine, Feb. 6, 2006 issue

Related Links:
::: When art imitates a sick world, it’s a horror story
The Age - February 5, 2006

Thanks to Bob Cashill on Mobius for bringing this to our attention.

::: Discuss this with others in the Movie Lounge Forum

‘Hostel’ Contest Winners Announced!

Posted on 01.12.06 by Blake @ 1:38 am

Hostel Italian Poster We ran a contest for “Hostel” to see who could come up with the best idea for “Cabin Fever 2.” M. Fish and Rodney sent in the best entries for this sequel and have won prize packs! Congratulations on two excellent entries! We also want to thank everyone else that entered. “Hostel” is currently tearing up the box office charts. I saw it this past weekend and I loved the “Fight for Your Life” (1977) and “The Wicker Man” (1973) homages in it. Be on the look out for a Eli Roth cameo in the Amsterdam bar. It was so weird seeing Iceland represented in a film. As I sat there and watched the film, I was thinking that cinema needs more Iceland characters in it. Hostel tourism may be down after this film but tourism to Iceland will be off the charts! I should have my full review of “Hostel” posted in the coming days.

Winning Entries: (originally here)

Entry from M. Fish
The sequel to the superb film that is Cabin Fever by M.Fish.

Intro: The camera zooms down a dark hallway to a room. The door opens, and it’s a room filled with posters of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Sonny Chiba! On the bed, with their back to us, is someone with long blonde hair. As the camera zooms around, the person is revealed to the audience to be … Dennis!! We see his eyes red and veiny, but his skin is fine. He appears to be infected, but not entirely. As a nod to fans of the first film, a sinister Dennis speaks just one word looking up into the camera before the title credits roll… “Pancakes” (Click Here To Read More…)

Filed under: Movie News and Movie News: USA and Movies: Hostel (2005) and People: Eli Roth and Contests
Comments: None

Hostel Contest

Posted on 12.28.05 by Blake @ 9:41 pm

Win the following Hostel prize pack:
* Hostel X-Large T-Shirt
* Hostel Mini-DVD Preview
* Hostel USA Full Size Poster
* Hostel German Full Size Poster

To enter:
Come up with an idea for Cabin Fever 2. Bonus points if you include Sonny Chiba and Philip Seymour Hoffman in it. The wilder and unique the better. The best sequel idea wins the Hostel prize pack. Deadline for entries is Midnight January 6th. Contest is open to everyone world wide.

Entries must be posted in the comments below.

Hostel opens in theaters on January 6th.
::: View the Trailer
::: Official Eli Roth Hostel Blog
::: Official Hostel Website

Lions Gate Contest:
Lions Gate also has it’s own Hostel contest going on with it’s own set of prizes. To enter it go to www.hostelfilm.com. When entering tell them you heard about the contest from CinemaStrikesBack.com

XLarge Contest:
Not to be outdone XLarge.com has it’s own Hostel contest going on with it’s own set of prizes. To enter it go to:
http://www.xlarge.com/contests.php?newsid=15

Filed under: Movie News and Movie News: USA and Movies: Hostel (2005) and People: Eli Roth and People: Quentin Tarantino and Contests
Comments: 5 Comments

Top 5 Favorite Films Seen at Fantastic Fest 2005

Posted on 10.11.05 by Brian @ 12:00 am

1. Strings (www.stringsthemovie.com)
Strings
Epic on a story level and a craftsman level, this film treats marionettes with the most creativity and ingenuity that I’ve seen in film ever. You really forget they’re puppets but KNOW they’re puppets at the same time. It’s integral yet disregarded; a really fascinating and beautiful movie.

2. Hostel (us.imdb.com/title/tt0450278)
Hostel Eli Roth Takashi Miike
I guess you could describe Hostel as fascinating and beautiful as well, but for completely different reasons. It’s stark raving fun with no reservations or qualms about being what it is: a down and dirty grimy tale of the horrors waiting out there for dumb tourists. Of course, my horse!

3. Zathura (www.sonypictures.com/movies/zathura)
Zathura
Transcending the family to be a great film for people of any age, Zathura is a really fun ride with a smart script, excellent kid actors, and some real laughs and thrills. A fascinating story with a beautiful blend of effects work, it’s as solid as solid can be. In the words of Jon Favreau: “It’s something that parents won’t hate when they have to watch it 50 times with their kids.”

4. Wolf Creek (www.wolfcreekmovie.com)

A deceptively deliberate and simple horror movie, again, about what can happen to dumb tourists for pretty much no reason. Ok nothing is really fascinating here but the Australian scenery is beautiful. John Jarratt’s laugh will probably haunt my dreams for months to come.

5. Miracle Mile (us.imdb.com/title/tt0097889/)

What do you you’re given the deadline for the end of the world? You watch this movie! It’s all the fun that the Apocalypse should be. Fascinating and beautiful. Ok I’m done. (Click Here To Read More…)

Filed under: General and Film Festivals: News and Movies: Hostel (2005) and People: Eli Roth and Venues: Alamo Drafthouse and Film Festivals: Fantastic Fest 2005 and Contributors: Brian
Comments: None

Fantastic Fest Day 4 Report

Posted on 10.10.05 by Brian @ 12:00 am

In an effort to replicate the hazy sense of zombification that seeing 20 movies in 4 days on scant few hours of sleep a night brings, my write-up for the last day of Fantastic Fest 2005 will be vague and blurry. Actually, I hope it won’t be, but if it is you know why. (Click Here To Read More…)

Filed under: General and Movie Reviews: Japan and Movie Reviews: USA and DVD News and DVD News: USA and Movie Reviews: Europe and Movies: Hostel (2005) and Movie Reviews: Italy and People: Takashi Miike and People: Eli Roth and People: Robert Rodriguez and Venues: Alamo Drafthouse and Movie Reviews: Australia and Film Festivals: Fantastic Fest 2005 and Contributors: Brian
Comments: None