The thing that people frequently forget about Saw is that it wasnt actually that gruesome. It wasnt tame, but it wasnt really made in the “torture porn” style that the slough of sequels, which hit theaters every Halloween for the next six years after the first film’s release, implemented. The original Saw film concerned two men forcibly detained in a room for the majority of its run time. The intricately designed traps and garish tone the franchise took on didnt start until the sequels went in to production. Saw was made for nearly nothing and only secured a nationwide theatrical release after the completed film was purchased and distributed by Lionsgate. Saw has served as an inspiration for countless films and it inspired many companies to see the monetary value in “contained” horror films.
People are often quick to dismiss Hostel as nothing more than excessive nudity and gore. And, they are correct that the film contains a large amount of nudity and gratuitous violence, but there is more to the film than that. Eli Roth created a terrifying and brutally realistic looking film with a highly original concept. It wasnt the first movie to feature humans hunting humans for sport, but Hostel took it a step further to bring us a film about humans, not so much hunting, but brutalizing and torturing fellow human beings for sport. Hostel has spawned two sequels and countless imitators, but the original still stands as a groundbreaking and game changing film. The influence of Hostel can be seen in films like The Tortured, Borderland, and Turistas.
Which films from the past fifteen years do you think have shaped the landscape of contemporary horror? Let us know in the comments below!
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