All Eli Roth Horror Movies, Ranked By Scariness

Knock Knock has many horror elements, but in reality, it could be considered a love letter to the erotic thriller subgenre. The film sees the beloved Keanu Reeves as an unfaithful husband facing the consequences as his lover terrorizes him in his home.

There are controversial topics discussed in the film, but more than that, it makes it impossible to root for Reeves as he literally brings everything upon himself. As a result, fear is the furthest emotion a viewer can feel while watching Knock Knock. Still, it might appeal to anyone who likes home invasions thriller, just prepare yourself for a campier movie that strays from Roth’s usual brand of visceral gore.

Inspired by a trailer in Grindhouse (2007), Thanksgiving gives the holiday a fitting slasher theme around togetherness. The film marks Eli Roth’s first slasher, and as a fan of the genre, it’s a blast. It’s violent and shocking with a surprisingly good mystery that unfolds.

With all that in mind, Thanksgiving isn’t a very scary film. By slasher standards, it doesn’t do a thing to reinvent the genre, but it does add another great killer into the mix. It’s a perfect movie to introduce Eli Roth to newcomers, but it’s far from scary.

I remember being young and hearing about Cabin Fever long before I knew who Eli Roth was. The idea that people could go mad from a flesh-eating virus isn’t as scary as the virus itself, and many gruesome scenes showcase this.

Many remember what it was like seeing the girl shave her legs as the skin comes off, and that feeling of grossness doesn’t go away with age. Unfortunately, the blend of shock humor makes the horrific and dramatic moments far less effective, but body horror fans might still find something to like in what is arguably one of Roth’s most popular movies.

After watching the first entry in the franchise, the impact of Hostel: Part II struggles to move beyond the natural cringe factor of seeing people get tortured. The first film did a fantastic job of telling a story of backpackers stuck in a bad situation, and in many ways, the sequel does more of the same.

Hostel: Part II can’t hold a candle to its predecessor by nature, but that doesn’t mean what’s shown isn’t nauseating as is. Therefore, fear isn’t a major factor in this film, but its violence is maintained and serves as a testament to great practical effects. If the first movie horrified you, this one will, too.

Brutal doesn’t begin to describe what happens to a group of activists whose plane crashes near a cannibalistic tribe they’re trying to protect. The Green Inferno’s terror isn’t just about the bloody and violent ways the tribe kills and eats the protagonists; it’s about the cruel irony behind it all.

The activists may have taken things a step too far in protecting the rainforest, but, in reality, the jungle isn’t going to thank them for it. The Green Inferno is a terrifying exercise in understanding that no good deed goes unpunished and survival is the only true constant.

What makes Hostel such a terrifying film isn’t that it’s grounded in the idea of vacationers staying in a hostel; that happens all the time, and bad things don’t always occur. The real terror is how it leaves audiences with a feeling of “what if?” What if you stay in a hostel knowing it’s safe, and a vacation leads to torture like in the film?

Roth’s ability to showcase brutal violence serves to make Hostel even more impactful and gut-wrenching. What makes it a certified standout is that it transcends the director’s name. No one can forget Hostel because even those who didn’t see it know what it is. It’s a fascinating cautionary tale, but even hardcore horror fans will probably only want to watch it once.