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Nearly twenty years after first teasing audiences with a Thanksgiving-themed slasher film, Eli Roth is back with another twisted creation — and this time, the murder weapon is a piano. Titled 'The Piano Killer', the bloody and absurd short-form trailer is the latest project to debut under Roth’s genre-focused label, The Horror Section. Created alongside frequent collaborator Jeff Rendell ('Thanksgiving'), the teaser offers a macabre blend of gore, dark humour, and musical mayhem.
Audiences will get their first full look at 'The Piano Killer' starting 15th August, when it screens ahead of Joe Begos’ film 'Jimmy & Stiggs' in select cinemas. However, Collider offers an exclusive early peek at what’s coming — and it’s every bit as wild as you'd expect from the twisted minds behind Hostel and Cabin Fever.
A Symphony of Slaughter in 'The Piano Killer'
The teaser wastes no time diving into chaos. A trench coat-clad figure lurks in the shadows, stalking a woman through a dimly lit street. Just as she breathes a sigh of relief, a piano crashes down from above, flattening her in spectacularly gruesome fashion. What follows is a montage of absurd piano-themed kills, gory practical effects, and even a brief appearance by Roth himself — all stitched together with cheeky puns and wink-nod references to the genre.
'The Piano Killer' isn’t just a spoof — it’s a celebration of horror’s most over-the-top traditions. Drawing inspiration from the Italian Giallo style and classic slasher tropes, the teaser offers the kind of chaotic fun that made Thanksgiving such a surprise hit. Given that 'Thanksgiving' itself began as a faux trailer before becoming a full-length feature (and now has a sequel on the way), it’s not hard to imagine 'The Piano Killer' one day following a similar path.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
The Art of the Fake Trailer
Roth has long been a champion of the fake trailer format — not just for the fun, but for the creative freedom it allows. He’s said in recent interviews that crafting a trailer lets him focus on the wildest, bloodiest moments without worrying about character development or plot logic. For him, it’s pure cinematic junk food: quick, shocking, and satisfying.
During production on 'Thanksgiving', Roth and Rendell would joke about their next movie being a piano-themed slasher. What started as an offhand idea has now become reality — something Roth admits is both hilarious and slightly unnerving. With a nod to Argento-style thrillers and plenty of splatter, the teaser proves they’ve hit the right note with horror fans.
