Following the release of Cabin Fever, Eli Roth went on to become one of the biggest faces in horror cinema. Throughout the years, the director has gained quite a reputation for himself, typically through his extensive use of gore and controversial storylines. However, he has remained unapologetic throughout his journey, mastering his style and creating some of the most iconic horror movies to date. But his rise to fame wasn’t just a solo expedition. The director was undoubtedly influenced and guided by one of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors, Quentin Tarantino.

Roth has always been an avid admirer of Tarantino’s work. In fact, during his time in college, Roth directed a student film called Restaurant Dogs, a clear homage to Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. The pair is now known for being good friends, and have worked on various projects throughout the years. Together, they have a shared passion for the unconventional, and a mutual desire to challenge the norms of storytelling. As Roth began to navigate the complex landscape of filmmaking, Tarantino offered a helping hand, helping Roth to be brilliant and embrace his own distinctive voice in various different ways.

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Tarantino Served as a Mentor to Eli Roth
The Weinstein Company 

Quentin Tarantino first became engrossed in Eli Roth’s work after watching Cabin Fever, describing the director as “the future of horror.” After that, he quickly took Roth under his wing, becoming his mentor in many different ways. This professional relationship would go on to prove instrumental to Roth as a filmmaker, and having written Cabin Fever at just 21 years old, he proved he was capable of excelling in the field.

Tarantino’s guidance went further than just the technical aspects of filmmaking. They would go over the different intricacies of storytelling, character development, and how to create a cinematic experience that stays with audiences. The duo bonded on their shared interest in making films that were controversial, and unlike anything that Hollywood or audiences were used to. Tarantino’s influence helped to shape Roth’s creative process, encouraging him to embrace daring choices that would set his work apart in the horror genre.

The mentorship between the two has turned into a collaboration at various points throughout their careers. For example, Roth famously appeared in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds as Donny Donowitz. While audiences say this was just a friendship cameo, it was a lot more than that. His role in the film served almost as a creative culmination of everything they had done together, allowing him to demonstrate his filmmaking skills, but also pay respect to his religion and culture.

Roth also directed and narrated a faux trailer segment in Grindhouse entitled Thanksgiving, which readers might recognize as one of his most acclaimed works to date. Roth has spoken openly about Tarantino’s support in him creating a feature-length film of Thanksgiving, with Tarantino expressing he did not want to be involved in the project, stating that it should be Roth’s thing. This alone shows how Tarantino proved crucial in shaping Roth’s identity as a filmmaker, sharing his wisdom and platform in order to allow Roth to find his voice.

Related: Eli Roth: Every Movie He’s Directed, Ranked

His Involvement with Hostel Helped to Cement Eli Roth in Horror History

One of the most defining moments in Eli Roth’s career came with the release of Hostel in 2006. The film would go on to become a major benchmark in horror cinema, establishing Roth as one of the most daring filmmakers alive today. Not only did Quentin Tarantino’s mentorship prove helpful in the development of the film, but he also served as an executive producer. A lot of the marketing for the film had “Quentin Tarantino Presents” on it, which helped to play a pivotal role in the film’s overall success, guaranteeing him an audience.

Not only did Tarantino’s name being attached to Hostel lend it some credibility, but it also brought with it a certain expectation of quality and innovation. The film, known for its intense and graphic depictions of violence, drew both acclaim and criticism. Even years after its release, debates still continue about the boundaries of horror that were pushed in its making. Roth himself has also come under various scrutiny from the public, though he has remarked that he enjoys being controversial. However, regardless of how anyone feels about the film, there’s no denying the way it changed the horror genre, with more films of a similar caliber releasing in the years following.

Roth is someone who understands the horror genre completely, and has consistently spoken about it with immense passion. It’s clear to see why Tarantino has always been a constant supporter of Roth, and helped him to translate this love into something that would get audiences talking. Through many of his projects since, you can feel Tarantino’s influence through his tension-building and overall audacity of his films. While Roth is a talented filmmaker, it was Tarantino’s belief in his vision that helped his future success as a horror filmmaker, forcing audiences to take him more seriously and not just as someone churning out torture porn.