If there's anything Eli Roth knows, it's horror. Kicking off his career with 2002's absolutely brutal Cabin Fever then moving on to Hostel, Roth quickly built a foundation on the genre he knows and adores. Staring this weekend on AMC, his new series Eli Roth's History of Horror will take a deep dive into the constructs of terrifying movies as he interviews directors, creators, and industry insiders. The series will look at different sub-genres and the long running history of fear, gore, and the shocking. Episode one is on October 14th at 12am.
“Featuring A-list storytellers like Stephen King, Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele, Jason Blum, Robert Englund, Linda Blair, Tippi Hedren, Rob Zombie, Haley Joel Osment, Jack Black, John Landis, Jamie Lee Curtis and more, Eli Roth’s History of Horror brings together the masters of horror – icons and stars who define the genre – to explore its biggest themes and reveal the inspirations and struggles behind its past and present.”
- Sunday, October 14: Zombies
“Zombies are the monsters of the 21st century, and America’s major contribution to horror. What set off zombie fever? All roads lead to George Romero, who made zombies a metaphor for social ills.”
- Sunday, October 21: Slashers (Part One)
“Slasher films killed in the ’80s, but their violence, perceived misogyny, and endless sequels almost ended the genre. Supernatural killers Chucky and Freddy saved them from extinction.”
- *Monday*, October 22: Slashers (Part Two)
“Slashers got sophisticated in the ’90s, evolving from Freddy Krueger to Candyman to the terrifying Hannibal Lector. The 2000s brought “torture porn” – a response to post-9/11 panic.”
- Sunday, October 28: Demons Inside
“The fear that demons will enter our bodies and make us do terrible things has inspired some of the most frightening films ever made, including the masterpieces Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist.”
- Sunday, November 4: Ghost Stories
“Ghost movies have been with us since the dawn of cinema. Some ghosts are benevolent, some ghosts are malicious, but they all represent the mystery of what happens to us after we die.”
- Sunday, November 11: Killer Creatures
“Monsters hold a special place in the history of horror. The killer predators in nature. The nightmare creatures of the fantastic. And the monsters inside us, waiting to escape.”
- Sunday, November 18: Vampires
“Modern vampires come in many guises, but they all address our fascination with sex and death. From the ghastly Count Orlok to the glam vampires of True Blood, thirsty fiends are endlessly appealing.”