Perhaps it's a sign of the times where the cinema reflects the conscious or subconscious social climate, but horror films of late have turned incredibly brutal. From the "Saw" flicks to smaller imports like "High Tension" and "Wolf Creek," we've seen an increase in sadistic style torture and killings where any traces of the earlier humor, absurdism and/or escapist entertainment elements have been excised from such films like any number of unnecessary digits, limbs or heads.
And so the trend continues with "Hostel," director Eli Roth's follow-up to the "zombie" in the woods plotted "Cabin Fever." As the titles might suggest, we've now moved from a remote cabin in those woods with feverish killers on the loose to Slovakia where an underground sadist "entertainment complex" is in full swing. The result certainly pushes of the limit of how far a filmmaker can go with viewers and how much the latter are willing to tolerate before getting sick or simply just getting up and leaving.
Some viewers may be confused or misled by the top billing given to Quentin Tarantino, but the "presents" title means the veteran filmmaker simply executive produced this offering and that the releasing studio wanted to lure in viewers with his name. The fit, however, is perfect, as the man behind the "Kill Bill" films as well as "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" certainly knows his way around onscreen mayhem.
With those "KB" films, Tarantino only further strengthened his view of violence as an art form to itself. Then again, there has always been more to his films than just violence, including deft filmmaking, clever screenwriting and engaging characters. Most of which are in short supply here, although what's offered is a step up from the usual single-mindedness of such films of this sub-genre.
And Roth, who works from his own screenplay, somewhat plays with the conventions, using bits and pieces of other films to supplement his. They range from the comedy "Eurotrip" -- and its drugs, S&M material and a seemingly gay come-on by an older stranger on a train -- to Tarantino's own "Pulp Fiction" -- seen playing on a hostel TV in a dubbed foreign language -- which is referenced less directly so later on with an ode to Bruce Willis in that prior release.
He also takes his time getting to the meat -- no pun intended -- of the offering. For quite a while, the story seems to be one of those rowdy "American Pie" sorts (without the humor) featuring sex, drugs and wild youngsters. The three backpackers -- played by Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson and Eythor Gudjonsson but barely personified by the script -- go in search of more of that, but end up in a world of trouble, doomed by their own blinding lust.
From that point on, it turns into the equivalent of a snuff film, albeit one that eventually runs into part of the plot and theme from "The Most Dangerous Game." Unfortunately, it never really does anything terribly creative with the latter (that's the old tale of hunters who decide to hunt man, only to find their prey cleverer than they thought).
As in most such torture films, the problem is that we really don't care about these characters (particularly based on the initial hedonistic behavior on display here). And any such sympathy is really only by default (at least for those of us who don't get off on sadism). While there is plenty of blood, gore and more, Roth wisely doesn't go into overkill mode and instead occasionally lets us hear more than we actually see (including one scene that's briefly comprised of nothing but a black screen).
That tactic is supposed to make such moments even more terrifying and disturbing. But since the film will already be that for some viewers, the only effect that ploy is likely to have is to irritate the sadistic viewers out there who want to see the torture in all of its full gory glory. And if you're not one of them, you'll likely be among those doing the suffering watching this efficient, if mean-spirited flick that gets most of its "suspense" from the gross-out material, rather than smart storytelling.
Had Tarantino done more than simply pony up the cash and "present" this blood fest, it might have been better or at least more interesting and engaging. Unless this is your cup of bloody tea, once you check into this "Hostel" and see what it's all about, you'll likely want to check out as soon as possible. The film rates as a 4 out of 10.
![[Screen It]](/images/underground_header.jpg)