Growing
up
with
a
love
of
Horror
movies,
it
is
no
surprise
that
these
brothers
would
end
up
working
together
in
the
genre.
Gabe’s
collaboration
with
Eli
has
led
to
him
producing,
directing,
shooting
and
editing
behind
the
scenes
documentation
for
both
Cabin
Fever
and
Hostel
(as
well
as
portraying
small
roles
in
both
films).
In
addition
to
producing
Eli’s
fake
trailer
Thanksgiving
for
Tarantino
&
Rodriguez’s
Grindhouse,
on
Hostel
Part
II
Gabe
acted
as
associate
producer,
as
well
as
second
unit
director
involving
many
of
the
intense
FX
sequences.
For
someone
venturing
into
motion
pictures,
a
good
foundation
is
a
must,
and
when
it
comes
to
Horror,
it’s
never
really
as
convincing
unless
the
filmmakers
involved
are
truly
into
the
genre
and
understands
its
intricacies.
“Our
parents
pretty
much
gave
us
free
reign
to
watch
whatever
we
wanted,
but
they
watched
it
with
us.”
These
naturally
include
some
of
the
all
time
classics.
“We’d
watch
everything
-
I
saw
The
Exorcist
at
around
3
years
old,
but
I
only
really
appreciated
it
much
later
when
I
was
older.
When
video
really
got
big
we’d
be
exposed
to
much
more
stuff
like
Texas
Chain
Saw
Massacre
and
Pieces.
Eli,
myself
and
the
family
would
watch
all
these
movies.”
And
those
films
definitely
had
an
impact.
”With
the
Thanksgiving
trailer
for
Grindhouse
we
wanted
it
to
have
that
feeling
of
Maniac
(the
classic
directed
by
William
Lustig,
starring
Joe
Spinell
and
featuring
brilliant
Tom
Savini
FX).
“
“Kids
today
are
very
lucky
–
on
DVD
they
can
rediscover
all
these
cool
movies,”
but
within
reason…
“I
feel
age
restrictions
are
important.
These
movies
are
not
for
everyone
and
you
need
a
measure
of
maturity.
We
were
lucky
that
we
could
watch
these
movies
with
our
parents.
Some
13
year
olds
can
understand
these
films
while
many
can’t.
Parental
judgment
is
definitely
important.”
When
it
comes
to
the
craft
of
filmmaking,
different
people
prefer
different
aspect
of
it.
”Interestingly
I
love
the
production
and
post-production
process,
not
the
pre-production.
To
me
it
is
an
overwhelming
headache.
I’m
excited
when
we’re
in
production
where
I
can
dive
into
the
moment.”
And
when
it’s
all
in
the
can,
the
fun
isn’t
over.
“In
post-production
you
can
sit
back
and
reflect,
and
have
an
influence
over
the
outcome.
It’s
a
great
process.”
In
recent
years
the
torture
horror
genre
has
experienced
a
resurgence,
to
the
extent
that
it
may
have
lost
its
impact.
But,
the
Roths
were
at
the
crest
of
that
bloody
wave.
”Eli
definitely
played
a
big
role
in
its
revival.
In
a
big
way
it
is
influenced
by
directors
like
Takashi
Miike
(who
had
a
cameo
in
the
first
Hostel),
and
a
homage
to
many
of
the
Italian
movies
we
love.
It’s
a
look
back
across
three
generations
–
like
punk
rock,
with
new
bands
honoring
The
Ramones.”
Trends,
fads
and
themes
may
come
and
go,
but
Horror
is
here
to
stay,
and
a
great
learning
ground
for
new
directors
(as
with
South
African
born
Jonathan
Libesman
who
made
Darkness
Falls
and
Texas
Chainsaw
Massacre
The
Beginning).
”Horror
movies
will
never
go
away
–
it’s
a
great
thing.
As
with
any
film,
you
get
good
and
bad
ones.
Many
directors
started
out
in
the
genre,
even
Steven
Spielberg
with
Jaws.”
But
the
genre
may
be
in
danger
of
cannibalizing
itself,
unless
it
gets
a
steady
injection
of
“fresh
ideas
to
keep
things
interesting.
Things
get
recycled
a
lot.
In
Eli’s
case
the
movies
are
developed
and
made
with
a
refined
style.”
What
many
viewers
forget
is
that
Horror
movies
are
not
just
a
case
of
squirting
blood
and
pointing
the
camera
with
important
components
not
to
be
neglected,
including
“a
good
script
naturally,
a
visionary
director,
and
all
aspects
of
mood.”
And
the
seemingly
easy
route
with
remakes
isn’t
always
feasible:
“It
really
depends
–
there
is
room
for
remakes.
John
Carpenter’s
The
Thing
(1982)
was
great.
Some
are
just
remade
for
no
reason
–
it’s
fine
if
it
stays
true
to
the
material
or
adds
a
twist.”
While
the
first
Hostel
had
many
people
sit
up
and
take
notice,
Part
II
drew
some
serious
criticism,
much
in
the
vein
of
condemning
it
as
Horror
Porn.
“Many
reviewers
simply
shot
it
down
quickly.
But
one
of
the
coolest
advocates
for
Hostel
Part
II
was
Stephen
King
who
defended
it
in
the
L.A.
Times.
Eli
was
really
touched
by
that.
When
it
comes
to
movie
taste,
Gabriel’s
is
a
broad
one.
”I
respond
to
many
different
things.
I
mean,
I
love
the
new
Harry
Potter
movie,
I
think
it’s
a
great
kids’
horror
movie.
It
has
some
interesting
characters.
You
watch
the
movie
and
you
forget
about
everything.
I
think
that
is
what
Hostel
does.”
Having
grown
up
with
Eli
and
worked
closely
with
him
on
his
movies,
Gabe
knows
his
brother
better
than
most,
and
he’s
no
bloodthirsty
madman.
”Eli
is
very
sensitive
to
everything
around
him.
It’s
like
he
has
an
antenna
on
his
head
–
he’s
quite
impassioned
in
his
responses.
He
has
very
strong
opinions
on
everything.
He’s
sensitive
to
the
world
around
him,
and
when
writing
a
movie
things
that
bother
him
make
its
way
into
the
script.
He’s
a
great
storyteller
and
is
capable
of
drawing
verbal
pictures.”
And
these
observations
have
a
lot
to
do
with
the
nature
of
exploitation:
”In
many
ways
the
USA
treats
people
badly,”
and
that
metaphor
is
very
strong
in
the
Hostel
films
on
how
the
world
views
Americans.
Working
so
closely
together,
one
would
expect
the
brothers
to
knock
heads
at
some
time,
but
their
vision
is
a
common
goal.
”
We
have
the
same
interests.
In
the
case
of
Hostel,
that’s
his
baby,
and
I
was
there
to
support
and
help
him.
We
lived
together
during
the
making
of
it
and
talked
through
all
the
shots,
making
sure
there
is
no
miscommunication.”
And
on
a
shoot
with
so
many
brutal
scenes,
the
severity
often
bled
onto
the
set
of
Hostel
Part
II.
“The
two
days
with
Heather
Matarazzo
hanging
upside
was
intense!
She
never
complained
once,
naked
covered
with
blood
–
she’s
the
model
of
professionalism.
Months
ahead
she
did
yoga
training
to
prepare
for
it,
and
at
times
was
hanging
upside
for
5-6
minutes
at
a
time,
sometimes
up
to
ten
minutes
straight.
It
was
pretty
intense.”
Next
on
the
cards:
“We’re
talking
about
Trailer
Trash,
something
along
the
lines
of
the
Thanksgiving
trailer.
We’ve
been
going
2
½
years
non-stop
with
Hostel
and
we’re
quite
happy
going
on
vacation!”
-
Paul
Blom
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