Eli Roth’s list of films that absolutely traumatised him as a kid is perfect

Paul Moore

There are some classic here…

Very few people pay attention to the credits at the start of the film, but with Eli Roth’s new film, The House With A Clock In Its Walls, being released this week, there’s a studio logo that’s instantly identifiable to anyone that was raised in the ’80s.

Simply put, Amblin Entertainment are as much a part of the ’80s as shoulder pads, the Walkman, and floppy disks.

The production company was founded by Steven Spielberg and they’ve been involved with some absolutely iconic ’80s films. Gremlins, The Goonies, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back To The Future, Innerspace, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Arachnophobia. The list goes on.

Essentially, Amblin is synonymous with making some brilliant family adventures that weren’t afraid to mix unsettling elements of creepy tension with movie magic and memorable horror. They pushed the envelope and in the process, they created some absolutely incredible films.

Case in point, the steamroller scene in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the bit with the Gremlin in the kitchen blender, or the moment when the government scientists put the entire house under quarantine in E.T.

Christ, that was terrifying.

Much like every other person that absolutely loved these films, Eli Roth continues to be shaped by this incredible period when darkness, horror, and mystery seemed like key elements in films that were mainly aimed at a younger audience.

Maybe that explains the fact that Roth would ultimately become one of the most famous horror directors by making the likes of Hostel, Cabin Fever, and The Green Inferno.

It’s fitting then that Roth’s new film, The House With A Clock In Its Walls, is produced by Amblin and the fantasy tale of warlocks and witches has even impressed Steven Spielberg.

The magical adventure tells the tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead. Can Lewis help his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett) unravel the mystery before it’s too late?

With regards to the moments of horror, Roth drew from his own childhood trauma to frighten the younger generations and his list of influences is second to none.

Take a look as Owen Vaccaro and the acclaimed horror director chat with JOE’s Paul Moore…