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HOSTEL (2005) Director: Eli Roth. Hacktors: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Takashi Miike. Rating/5: The lowdown: It's been a long long time since Eli Roth delivered us a film. Yes, Cabin Fever was over-rated, but still a good flick. Over the past few years, we have repeatedly heard about the possible projects that Roth would follow it up with: all the rumors about a Baywatch movie, a crappy Bad Seed remake, and whatever with the whole Olsen Twins fascination. But, finally, after this lengthy period, we get Hostel!     Now let me preface this review by saying that I have read both good and bad judgements of the film and can understand both sides. Certain magazines had written that it was too much Porkys, and not enough Audition, while others claim that excessive violence is unnecessary and a cop out. But if you are here at Slasherama you know what the f**k you're looking for and don’t need some pussy columnist that loves The Travelling Sister Pants movies to tell you that the movie was lousy... Good points: We are here to tell you that this movie rules! It's nasty, gory, gross and all the things you come to expect from a decent horror film. But now we have Tarentino backing it up, and his name carries a lot of clout in Hollywood. The rumor is that the film got past the ratings board with no cuts, and I can honestly say that I am genuinely surprised, because inside of the theater you will find a brutal, nudity-filled, work of art that seems to hold nothing back. Roth has finally warranted his horror icon status (even if he had to ask Uncle Tarantino for a guiding hand).     By now you probably know the story, so I'll only mention that three stoner buddies on a sex 'n' dope trip to Amsterdam find their way into a mysterious land of easy chicks and free drugs inside the titular establishment. While there we get to enjoy an amazing amount of tits and ass, a couple silly sex scenes and a couple good ones. Then just when you get comfortable and think that these guys have died and gone to heaven, the trouble starts.     So far, I have seen this movie twice and I am ready to see it again. The best part about Hostel is that it's being marketed like a scary movie, one to sit on the Blockbuster shelves next to House IV and The Howling, and live its nice little horror life. But what we actually have is a balls-out violent film that really does belong next to the grimier and filthier movies which us gorehounds will watch over and over again. And it doesn’t just stop at the gore: it really gets you with the decidedly fucked-up situations and the characters reacting within them. Do not let the trailers fool you! Hostel really does deliver what it promises, unlike most films that give you some good stuff but never quite dare to go as far as they would lead you to believe, like Saw... Bad points: Some of the acting is shit, the whole story feels light and rather rushed, and you really never do care much about the leads in the film. When bad shit happens to them, well... it's no biggie. Show us more gore! The bad stuff isn’t that troublesome, though, because this time Roth delivers a viciously entertaining ride. Overall: If you like boobs, blood and feeling happily dirty after watching innocent people get tortured, then you need to run to the theater this weekend and see Hostel. Horror fans will love it, and normal people will get the shit kicked out of them! Release Date: Hits US theaters on January 6, 2006. UK cinemas get the pleasure on April 21. Reviewer: SpookyDan. Check out his Spookshow website here. [Reviews Menu] [Home] © Copyright Slasherama 2002-present