Lions Gate has come on boardas domestic distributor on Screen Gems' upcoming horror picture Hostel from Eli Roth and will launch itwide on Dec 21.

Quentin Tarantino served as executive producer on the picture, which stars JayHernandez as an American tourist who becomes ensnared in an underground torturering.

Lions Gate, which distributed Roth's feature debut Cabin Fever in the USin 2003, also holds North American television rights. Screen Gems retainsinternational theatrical and domestic home video rights.

Mike Fleiss and Chris Biggs produced and Scott Spiegel and Boaz Yakin served asexecutive producers with Tarantino.

The studios previously collaborated on ThePunisher and separately have established strong reputations in the genrearena.

Lions Gate releases Saw II thisweekend and Screen Gems recently distributed The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, which to datehas grossed close to $75m at the domestic box office.

"I really think that Hostel pushesthe envelope of the genre, and I am so grateful to have the combined resourcesof Screen Gems and Lion's Gate supporting its release," Roth said.

"It's a dream come true for a horror film director to work with both of thesecompanies together, as they're each so highly respected by genre fans."