Hostel (2006)

[Phoenix]

Quentin Tarantino Presents "HOSTEL"
Written & Directed by Eli Roth

I saw this movie on Quentin Tarantino's recommendation alone - apparently the previews of it scared my entire friend network and family away. Everyone said 'too gross!' 'too scary!' which I think are perfectly great reasons to see a horror flick. Having read many interviews with Tarantino, one of which in Fangoria, I figured he has similar tastes with me and so I figure if he's presenting, I'm paying to see it on the big screen.

Hostel starts out with three friends (two American, one Icelandic) staying at a hostel in Amsterdam. Sex, drugs, and jokes ensue. Actually, the portrayel of the American post-undergrads is one of the better representations I've seen. Usually the kids are really dumb and all cookie-cutter the same, so it was refreshing to see some 'kids' that I probably would have known in college.

I should warn the set-up to the gore and horror is slow-coming because I think Roth really wants you to like his characters. I didn't find the beginning set up to drag at all but I know many horror fans will because they want to see the violence right off the bat.

When the gore and horror do begin, they don't disappoint. Following a promise for some of the sexiest and easiest women in the world, the trio travel to a Slovakia hostel where they have a pretty good time before one of them disappears. What is this place and why are they killing kids!? I already knew because I'd seen Tarantino and Roth interviewed on late night. If you know the basic premise it will be pretty easy to figure out what's going on.

The gore is EXCELLENT and EXPERTLY done. I'd like to consider myself a connoisseur of horror make-up and this was perfect for me. Not too over-the-top, not to stingy. If you were disappointed in not seeing anything sawed off in 'Saw' then watch this! Also to note there are many Tarantinio directorial touches in the film...it's like he said 'Eli wouldn't it be great if you did this with that shot....etc.' So well directed is what I'm saying - great camera work was done.

The movies' ending took a bit of an unexpected turn for me but that is because I was expecting something really wacky for an ending (Roth did do 'Cabin Fever'...) but there is no wackiness there..actually it's pretty damn serious.

The acting was pretty good for a group of unknowns (and thank god they didn't use another B-list TV star, getting SICK of that!).

If you're going to see a horror movie on the big screen, this is the one to see. I'm glad I took Quentin's recommendation.

8/10

[Heineken Skywalker]

Good review, Phoenix. Tells enough about the movie while remaining spoiler-free. You should write more reviews.

[Bartwald]

Yup - you sure should!

We're going to get Hostel in March here. This sucks a lot, eh?

[Phoenix]

admin said:

Yup - you sure should!

We're going to get Hostel in March here. This sucks a lot, eh?

Indeed, but I think you should go and see it Bart. I have a feeling you will like it. ;D

[Bartwald]

I liked it, yeah. But my-oh-my does it tell shit about Slovakia! I know that people from Slovakia are already pissed off because of this hideous depiction of their country - and I can understand why! In reality Bratislava is a beautiful place and it's not a nice feeling to see it full of teams of killing kids begging for chewing gum (Slovakia produces fine gum, mind you). Roth's research was clearly based on re-watching Eurotrip - another film that clearly shows the authors know nothing about European countries.

I liked the acting (especially from the supporting creeps - the surgeon with shaky hands? Ayy!) and gore, though.

[Phoenix]

I have no bad opinion of Slovakia Bart just FYI.

[slayrrr666]

Well, since this is a review of the movie, but Fango's DVD review:

www.fangoria.com/ghastly_review.php

[Quorthon]

admin said:

I liked it, yeah. But my-oh-my does it tell shit about Slovakia! I know that people from Slovakia are already pissed off because of this hideous depiction of their country - and I can understand why! In reality Bratislava is a beautiful place and it's not a nice feeling to see it full of teams of killing kids begging for chewing gum (Slovakia produces fine gum, mind you). Roth's research was clearly based on re-watching Eurotrip - another film that clearly shows the authors know nothing about European countries.

Resident Evil 4 (the game) takes place in some destitute village in Spain (supposedly) where the people are infected with parasites called "Plagas" that mutate them into monsters a la "The Thing." There are even mutant infected dogs with tentacles shooting off their backs and a guy who splits his body apart to resemble a blood and gore-soaked centipede-man. There are giant flying insect-like creatures and a fat mutated slob with tentacles and a scorpion-like tail coming out of his back with pincers on it. Also, there are the Regenerators, which look humanoid but walk around naked, quivering with mouths filled with spike-like teeth. Blow off a leg or an arm or a head, and they keep coming at you and eventually grow it back.

You think that's how I really think it is in Spain?

Of course I do.

Yah can't make that shit up.

Europe is weird.

[Bartwald]

Quorth, you can laugh but I think my problem with Hostel is not unlike your problem with Fargo - you knew they were doing something wrong and it bothered you so much you couldn't like the film much while the rest of us - the ones not caring about the wrong accent - usually loved it.

And one more thing: I wouldn't mind Hostel telling us there's some crazy place for torturing people in Bratislava - what bothered me is the fact that they showed the place that really exists and is beautiful as something hideous, with packs of dirty kids terrorising the streets! You know, in the old, good The Wolf Man the makers wanted the film to be filled with superstitious and half-witted people, so they decided NOT to use any particular name for the place so as not to make any nationality angry (even though a fan knows it was supposed to be Wales); same thing should've been done here, I think.

[Quorthon]

I get what yer sayin' there, Bart.

I pretty much figured that Spain wasn't filled with villages of backwards people with mutant parasites inside their bodies.

It's funny, though, it's the first video game I've ever played that had so many messages dealing directly with current political climates.

Leon (The Hero): "...no, this is terrorism!"
Bad Guy: "That sure is a popular word these days..."

Later, another bad guy: "You don't really think a Conservative mind can save the world, do you?"

God, I love the Japanese.