Fantastic Fest Photos: 'Aftershock' with Eli Roth

in

AFTERSHOCK Eli Roth and Nicholas

When I reflect on the big box office successes of the 1970s, I think most about the disaster film genre dominated by producer and "Master of Disaster" Irwin Allen. Airport, Earthquake, The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure are the most well known films where characters must overcome natural calamities to escape and survive in the wake of destruction. Most of these movies relied on various subplots based on relationships between the survivors.

This year's Fantastic Fest featured Aftershock, a fictional disaster movie that pays homage to and amplifies Allen's legacy while adding an overwhelming dose of horror. Based on actual events surrounding an earthquake that struck Chile in 2010, the film stars actor/writer/producer Eli Roth (Inglourious Basterds, Hostel). The movie was shot in many of the same Chilean locations impacted by the 8.0 earthquake.

The storyline came about after a conversation between Roth and Aftershock writer/director Nicolas Lopez, during which Lopez described not just the devastation of the earthquake, but also the aftermath of the disaster including chaos and secondary effects such as a destructive tsunami.

Roth and Lopez were in attendance for the premiere of Aftershock, including the red carpet pictured above. See more photos from the event after the jump.

AFTERSHOCK Q & A Roth Nicholas

Lopez was quite comfortable during the Aftershock Q&A as he related his own personal experiences during the 2008 Chilean earthquake, finding some humor in the chaos that had Roth and the audience laughing. Lopez premiered Santos at Fantastic Fest 2008 and Fuck My Life at SXSW 2011, and was ecstatic to be back in Austin.

Twisted Twins with Nicholas Lopez

The Fantastic Fest darlings of the year were American Mary horror filmmakers Jen and Sylvia Soska, who joined Lopez for a photo op.

[Photo credits: "Eli Roth and Nicolas Lopez on the Red Carpet," "Aftershock Q&A," "Double Trouble for Nicholas Lopez with the Twisted Twins" by Debbie Cerda, all rights reserved, available for use by request and with accreditation.]