Eli Roth’s 2006 horror film Hostel was more rooted in reality than many initially thought. Roth recently revealed that the film, which depicts young travelers being kidnapped and tortured by wealthy individuals, was originally intended to be a documentary. The inspiration came after he discovered a chilling website on the dark web claiming users could pay $10,000 to go to Thailand and kill someone who had supposedly volunteered for the act. This discovery, along with the shocking images and reports from Abu Ghraib prison, sparked the idea for Hostel.
Roth described the film as exploring “what people do when no one’s looking,” reflecting on how wealth and secrecy could fuel such horrific activities. During his research, he faced a moral crossroads when the dark website required personal information to proceed, which led him to transform his idea into a fictional narrative instead. Roth’s decision to steer clear of fully immersing in the dark web’s claims likely protected him from direct risks, but it left him questioning if such atrocities could really occur.
Jennifer Lim, who played a victim in one of the movie’s most brutal scenes, shared her experience filming the eyeball-melting sequence. Lim described it as “terrifying” but emphasized her trust in the crew, who were careful with her safety. Despite criticisms of the film’s graphic nature, Roth was deliberate in not crossing the line too far, wanting audiences to feel uncomfortable yet still curious about what happens next.
The film’s portrayal of Slovakia sparked backlash, with Slovakian officials voicing offense over their country being shown as a hub for black-market torture. Looking back, Roth said that the film’s shocking themes still resonate today, emphasizing how society remains fascinated by the dark actions that happen behind closed doors. Now, Roth plans to reimagine Hostel into a new TV series, inspired by The White Lotus, exploring new stories and settings each season.
