Eli Roth’s ‘The Green Inferno’ Is Coming to Gardena Cinema
EXCLUSIVE: Night Frights LA will screen The Green Inferno on Monday, June 15th at the Gardena Cinema followed by a Q&A with Kirby Bliss Blanton.
Eli Roth’s 2013 film was controversial when it was released, and thirteen years later it stands out for the magnitude that it accomplished on an independent film budget.
Shot on location in the Amazon, Roth came to an agreement with the local indigenous tribe, The Callanayacu, to use their land and their community in the film. The film was inspired by Cannibal Holocaust (1980) and Roth did something that few would probably attempt today.
He shot on location with a $5M budget and the cast and crew traveled five hours each way to get to set. The aesthetics and vibrancy of the film is unmatched.
The local tribe (who Roth convinced to be a part of the production by showing them Cannibal Holocaust), in exchange for their help were compensated with medical and school supplies, a motorboat, new roofs for every home in the village, and a year’s wages for each member featured in the film.
This was a 30-day shoot with difficult locations. One scene involved the lead, Lorenza Izzo, in the water. An alternate location was needed for the shoot that day, and the actress almost drowned due to the current. Roth referred to it as one of the hardest days on set.
The scene where the group are traveling down the river, and the appearance of the tribe in the jungle had shots that were reminiscent of Medicine Man. A decade after its release, a cinematic example of indigenous rights, politics, and awareness are cemented in a horror film.
One could argue that Roth was able to draw awareness to the tribe and the issues that the area may face. Before The Green Inferno, how many would even know that they existed?
With Blanton answering questions from the team after the screening, it will be interesting to get her take on the film. She has starred in many horror films, and her perspective on how the scares in The Green Inferno resonate in comparison to others will be interesting to learn. She will also have great insight into what it was like to work on location in the Amazon, and what it took to accomplish a 30-day shoot. Please get your tickets and join us June 15 at the Gardena Cinema!