Eli Roth’s Trampoline Scene from Grindhouse Remains a Horror Icon: The Horror Director Breaks It Down
In a recent conversation with Screen Rant, Eli Roth revisited the infamous trampoline scene from his Grindhouse segment, Thanksgiving. The 2007 double feature, which included Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof and Robert Rodriguez’s zombie-comedy Planet Terror, featured a series of fake trailers, including Roth’s Thanksgiving, a holiday-themed slasher film packed with over-the-top gore and satirical humor.
Roth recalled a competition among the directors to create the most shocking moment in the film. He revealed that the trampoline scene was designed to be a standout, with a girl doing a split and being stabbed by a knife. The director explained, “We literally had the girl do a split. She left, popped the knife up, and then in editing, I cut to the turkey stab. People were like, ‘That was the most disgusting thing in the movie.'”
Roth emphasized the importance of simplicity, stating, “It just goes to show that often the cheapest gag is the most effective.” He also discussed the thrill of editing, noting that people were often surprised by the impact of the scene, which is just an edit. “It’s just an edit. There’s literally no makeup, no effects, no blood, nothing. And people are like, ‘That’s the sickest thing you’ve ever done.'”
Roth’s explanation highlights the importance of clever storytelling and creative editing in horror, as well as his ability to create a lasting impression with a simple but well-executed idea. The trampoline scene has become an iconic moment in horror cinema, and Roth’s explanation of its creation offers insight into the mind of a master of the genre.
