Customer Reviews

Hostel [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(116)
4 star:		(108)
3 star:		(82)
2 star:		(47)
1 star:		(134)

 

 

The first time you watch "Hostel" you leave remembering two things: an insane amount of sex and nudity, and some truly brutal torture sequences. The media ignoranty dubbed it a new genre, "torture porn". This film is actually rather tame when compared to some of Italy's 70's horror, grindhouse flicks like "Cannibal Holocaust", and some of Asia's current horror masters. Nontheless, horror fans drooled, sqeamish movie-goers and media watchdogs were offended, then everybody moved on. The truth is this: "Hostel" is the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" of our generation. After taking this so-called "director's cut" re-release as an opportunity to revisit a recent horror film I remembered fondly -if mostly for the two reasons stated above- I came to realize why so many people (not the least of which is Quentin Tarantino) believe in Eli Roth as a horror savior.

"Hostel" is a film layered with subtle humor that builds suspense beautifully and gives the audience exactly what they want to see while making them feel as though they've seen worse things than they actually have; all TCM hallmarks. The characters, obnoxiously American protagonists and European antagonists alike, are all both likeable, depraved, and almost feel like people you may know or have met somewhere before. You laugh with them, you scream with them, and you wonder what your own friends and family are truly capable of. Also reminiscent of TCM is the slaughterhouse feel one gets from the entire process of this torture industry where angry Europeans can take out their frustration with Americans and other tourists for a fee, thus comparing the suffering of the victims to that of animals harvested for slaughter. Be it simply for irony's sake, vegetarian propaganda, or both; it is nicely done. Had I reviewed this flick after one veiwing, I'd have given it 4 stars, tops, but having spent a little more time with "Hostel", I've found that there really is much more than meets the eye here. It really is a damn near flawless horror film with lots of little jokes I missed the first time around (keychain anybody?) and a final act that is so delightfully insane you can't help but smile as Roth intentionally pushes the limits of implausibility to comical levels while giving the audience bloody satisfaction. I love it.

While these DVD's are packed with extras that the studio apparently wouldn't allow Roth to include in the intitial release, as a director's cut this release fails miserably. The film itself is entirely unchanged except for an alternate ending. And that ending is awful, nonsensical, confounding, out of character, and pretty much inferior to the original cut in every possible way. So why the 5 stars? Because Roth was wise enough to include both versions so that you can choose to watch the original unrated version with the good ending intact. No harm, no foul. There are no less than four commentaries, tons of lengthy featurettes, around 20 minutes of deleted scenes, and an interview with the most hardcore director in the business, Japan's twisted and talented Takashi Miike (who has a cameo in the film) among other extras. Many of these special features were on the first DVD so this release is really only for those who have put off buying this movie. And if you haven't yet, now is the time.

I may be one of the few people who actually enjoyed Eli Roth's first film, Cabin Fever, despite the many inherent flaws to the story, direction and all-over-the-place feel. I never bought into the tagline for that film as once of the most horrific films this generation. I've been watching horror films for as long as I can remember and Cabin Fever doesn't even scratch the surface of what constitutes a great horror film. But it did show me that Eli Roth was serious about genre and acknowledges and honors his roots and influences.

Hostel is Roth's sophomore effort, and just like Rob Zombie with his second film (The Devil's Rejects) he shows improvement as a filmmaker and continues to show that he respects the genre he's chosen to be in. Hostel is an exercise in hate, pain and nihilism. There really are no sympathetic characters in the film. Roth instead shows just how debased, cruel and inhumane people can be towards each other. Whether its through verbal, physical and intellectual means. I must point out that this film is not the torture-porn that alot of media-types call it. The gore and torture really doesn't start until fully halfway into the film. Everything before the second half begins can be summed us as soft-core porn. There's alot of nudity and sex in this first half and sets-up the three characters played by Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson and Eythor Gudjonsson.

These three college students are shown as boorish, misogynistic, insensitive louts who wish nothing more from their European vacation than sex, drugs, sex, drugs and more sex. It's this behavior that lures them to a town in Slovakia. An Eastern European, Soviet Bloc-era town where the women are stunning and horny to do whatever with foreign men. So, the trio takes off for this haven of horny, easy, beautiful women and the soft-core porn sequences continues once they arrive. But intermixed within these sequences are small bits and hints of dread and uneasiness. There's a certain sense of decay to the town and its inhabitants despite the normal scenery.

The second half promptly begins once they arrive in town and check into the hsotel. The gore mentioned by most reviewers are pretty graphic for what was finally given an R-rating. For people like myself and other horror aficionados the gore in Hostel is something we haven't seen before. The gore and torture scenes are in-your-face and Roth owes alot of thanks to Takashi Miike's Audition in how the scenes are presented. Roth's style of directing Hostel really brings to mind Miike's cult favorite. Takashi Miike even makes a brief appearance in the film.

One thing that I wanted Roth to do which he seemed to have pulled back from was going all-out in presenting Hostel as a horror exploitation film. This film tries to emulate the gory exploitation Italian and American films of the mid-70's to early 80's. Maybe the MPAA had forced Roth to trim certain scenes to get an R-rating. In certain scenes one could almost feel and sense that something was left out. Maybe the DVD release with an unrated, director's cut will shed some light to this. Roth's influences are plain to see, but he falls slightly short of reaching the lofty heights that Romero, Miike, Fulci, Craven (early), Hooper, Gordon and Argento established with their grand guignol works.

Hostel is a very good second offering from Eli Roth who really seem to like the horror genre and is constantly trying to pay it homage. His direction is much better and gone are the campy, almost comedic sequences from Cabin Fever. The film does fail to convey anything original to the genre, but succeeds enough in honoring its bloody past. Roth went from a genre-hack to very promising horror auteur with Hostel. I am hoping his next project is less of an homage to horror's past and he actually adds to its future legacy. I'm happy to give this film a grade of 7/10.

Look, for anyone rating this 1 star or hoping for a 0 star rating stop reviewing a genre that you hate. Maybe you like older movies, maybe you like love stories, maybe you like a film to be uplifiting. Whatever you like it is not horror. Sure, there are plot holes (all horror movies have those) and yes it has SO MUCH gore and nudity(which a horror movie is naked without) it offends you. But who asked you to watch this and rip it apart.

I love movies in general, own a couple hundred. I saw this in the theater because I enjoyed the very humerous Cabin Fever and Eli Roth as a director in general. If you like movies and can enjoy good humor watch the cabin fever extras. So simple and funny. And Eli Roth appearing in Both Cabin Fever and Hostel was really funny, I dug his cameos.

Overall I like Eli Roth's movies and think Hostel was not GREAT or anything but it was far from the 1 star ratings most of the close minded people reviewing it posted. So if you can agree with what I have said go watch this and cabin fever too, you won't be sorry.

The first thing that surprised me about this movie was the solid acting. It seems like acting is an afterthough in horror these days.

The plot was original. Two Americans go on a backpacking trip of Europe. They meet another chap doing the same thing and he joins them. The trio are on the hunt for beautiful women, and are told another town has a stock-pile of them. The three of them travel to the town where super-model-type women are available by the dozens, and are overly willing to party with the 3 backpackers. One of the men vanishes. Then another. All of a sudden it becomes clear that things are not what they seem.

The film does not become grusome until over half way thru. But when its hits, hold on to your seats. This movie has some of the nastiest scenes ever. Cordless drills, Chain saws, and welding equipment are all used on helplessly handcuffed victims. Blood is everywhere.

This film will go over well with the Saw crowd. I was fairly impressed with it.

Heavily influenced by Takashi Miike, directer of 'Audition', (who also makes a cameo in 'Hostel'), this film is not for the squeamish. In fact, if you don't like horror movies, then you have no business watching this. The violence in 'Hostel' is horrific and is meant to be disturbing. This horror is not meant to be fun.

It's amazing how many bad reviews this ingenius horror piece received!
I am not usually a fan of horror films. In fact, would never have even stepped foot inside a cinema if one was playing without being dragged by the hair, kicking and screaming.
Times changed. I became a little more grown up and no longer interested in watching 'Space Jam' or 'Milo And Otis' and realised what reality was; sugarcoated endings were no longer a captivating interest. While movies like Hostel seem unrealistic and improbable, these things can actually happen; and they have, just look at Wolf Creek. If you've ever wondered what body parts might look like decaptated, you'll definately see a re-enactment here!
So one bright and sunny afternoon just before Tafe started; it was into the cinema to see this. And it was definately worth it.
The acting is fantastic and convincing. Paxton never loses the spark and zest in his character, the seductresses show us just how manipulative and luring they can be and the murderers show the darker side of the human behaviour, fetish and obsession.
Derek Richardson is also great eye candy ;)
This is honestly a worthy horror film; one of the best. Definately more thrilling and bone chilling than Wolf Creek. This is brutal, much deeper and you likely won't be able to sit through the whole thing without turning away at least once, that is how gruesome it is.
Take a journey into the Hostel. You won't be disappointed; but you may lose a few limbs...

Hostel is HANDS DOWN my favorite horror/torture movie of the new millenium. The scary thing about this movie is, is that this could really happen. Reality always adds to the fascination and scare factor in horror movies, video games, etc. The directors got the idea for Hostel when a friend emailed him a site where there was actually a murder-for-profit business in Thailand... which is "dismembered" in one of The Director's Cut's featurettes. So Hostel fans, The Director's Cut is simply a MUST HAVE!!

Also, living in Europe as well as other foreign countries while growing up, I can totally picture this happening to clueless backpackers trekking their way through unknown territory, language barriers, and where people could care less if you're an American or not. You may think you're entitled (as many Americans feel they are when they travel to a foreign country)--but you're/we're not.

Bottom line: People are effing sick, and stuff like this happens in real life everyday, all over the world--it's just not shown out in the open for all to see. Hostel just 'slices and dices', cooks that fact all together, and serves it to you raw in a nice little 'meat' package. If you gave this movie a low rating, it was because you couldn't handle the sheer reality of the story and the extreme violence. Simple as that. 5 stars!!

I originaly saw Hostel in the theatre, and will admit that I am one of those who couldn't make it through to the end. The level of gore and grossness that Eli Roth brought into this film was shocking, explicit and the most outrageous I had ever seen on screen. Though there have been many films in the past that have done even worse, Hostel has a more realistic feel to it - and I felt I was actually in the film upon initial watch. Scary thing. After awhile, I decided to give it another try. I am glad I did. I missed out on a very satisfying ending, and more, realizing there is a film here beneath all the gore and blood.

The other thing that got on my nerve the first time I saw Hostel was the ongoing sex and nudity throughout the first 30 minutes of the film. But, I realized the characters are college boys, and that's just what they do best. Now whatever the message Roth was sending out with this film or what some people get out of it, I saw a simple message clear as day - trust no one - especially in a foreign country. And if something is too good to be true, it usually is. That's what happens with these young men. And the fact that they are American makes it even worse - there are people that pay handsomely to see Americans suffer, and that's where the real guts (so to speak) of this movie lies. Torture scenes are brutal and inventive, and will leave a mark (on the viewer too!). After a few viewings, it seems mild now but still has a very scary element to it each time I watch. I would have to say its Roth's use of the camera and lighting, and the dark setting where this takes place that makes it so creepy every time I watch.

This unrated director's cut contains two verison of the film - thank God. The original, as seen in theatres, is fortunately there too. The reason I say fortunately is because the alternate ending on the cut version was very dissapointing - and not satisfying at all like the original. Fortunately, here you get both. This dvd is still worth the buy to see the difference between the two endings.

I felt dirty and I took a shower - thats how I felt coming home from the theatre that night. But its ok, its just a movie. It still has its morals - good defeats evil in the end. Give it a second try if you haven't yet, all that gore really blocks us from seeing a deeper picture at first. If you have not seen this yet, watch with caution.

Acting - 4
Characters - 3.5
Gore - 4.5
Story - 3.5
Overall - 4

overall, i feel like it has a pretty standard formula. the first half of the film is spent getting to know the characters. many party scenes scattered about with lots of gratuitous nudity. about 45 minutes in, the real "meat" of the film kicks in. i dont want to spoil too much in the overall story. there are very sinister things at work here, and you get bits and pieces of that throughout the movie.

basically its the story of three backpackers, and a trip they'll wish they would have never taken, if they can survive till the credits..

to most, this is no more than an exploitation film, but theres a lot more to it than that. its a film about exploitation. you see the main characters not only exploiting women throughout the first half of the film, but an entire nation, if not an entire continent. you see them exploiting the womens' bodies, laws of amsterdam, and the simple fact that they're americans. as time goes on, they become the exploited. they are now the exploited. imagination is the only limit on what can be done to them. for a price. [ironic.. although nothing can justify what happens to them]

the social commentary can probably be noticed by anyone other than a five year old. in our internet ruled, ebay enriched society, nearly anything we want can be obtained for a price. the movie also plays on many americans feelings of foreigners and vice versa.

theres a lot here past all the gore and nudity most people wont be able to realize, and thats fine. first, the camera work. in the opening scenes theres a lot of ambient camera runs with bright colors. as time goes on the color fads and the camera work has a much more frantic feel, perfectly complimenting the events onscreen.

Eli Roth hired an orchestra to perform a lot of the music for the film. there is a simple tri-note riff with a deliciously sinister vibe you hear it throughout the film on different instruments from time to time. a very epic score overall. i especially like the work in the later sequences-intense.

the voilence is extremely graphic, featuring some the most realistic and disturbing torture sequences you'll probably ever see.

for the faint of heart- do not watch this. you've been warned.

opening night-2 ambulances at the site. one woman left early and ended up passing out and falling on the ground. another woman thought she was having a heart attack and called 911. she wasnt really, but still. thats one crazy opening. this isnt for everyone.

this is a horror film in the truest form of the word. its disturbing and horrific. it will stay with you for days-if not weeks-after seeing it. anyone with a strong stomach and even a remote interest in horror should deffinitely check this out.

there's loads of great special features in this 2 disk director's cut. multiple commentaries, deleted scenes, alternate ending, 4 featurettes, interview with Takasha Miike, and more.

I picked this movie up while on an extreme gore binge with a friend of mine. When we saw this, we figured "Awesome, that's supposed to be disgusting!" Although this is marketed as "The scariest movie of the decade", it is nothing of the sort. It is NEVER scary. Ever. Disgusting? Yeah, in a few parts I guess. But if the entire movie is riding on gore and violence, and there are only a few minutes of the saids content, then the movie has failed. Yeah, the achilles tendon scene was a definite flincher, but nothing else really got me. The eye was wicked fake looking. It was obviously a cheap prosthetic slapped over her eye.

Another serious issue was the VERY slow buildup. At least an hour was spent showing as many breasts as they could fit on the reel. It was meant to lull the viewer into a false sense of security, but it was so long that the viewer was CONSTANTLY dragged into thinking about what the trailer promised. A 30 minute buildup, reasonable. 60? That's just bad editing. Sorry.

Another thing that really got me is that sometimes the main character wouldn't take the action the viewer really wanted him to. It would have been great if he went on a murderous rampage, killing his captors. He did take out four or five guards, but that was not enough.

Overall, this movie was not even halfway as good as the trailer made it seem, and the fact that it was marketed as a horror movie is just pathetic.