Hostel

Eli Roth 2005

On the promise of fulfilling their self-indulgent whims, three backpackers end up in a Hostel in a run down Slovakian town. Here they become the prey for some people who are fulfilling far more deadly hedonistic pleasures.

One day I will stop listening to hype. I avoided seeing this in the cinema for fear of what I might see...would I vomit? Would I pass out? No, I'd barely be able to stifle a yawn.

Now, don't get me wrong, the idea behind this film is truly horrific, because the dark depths to which human nature reaches is truly horrific but this film fails to express this.

Instead of a chilling view into the mind of those willing to pay for this 'unique' experience, we get, at best, a mediocre teen slasher.

The 'victims' range from arrogant and naive to just plain annoying. Moreover, some victims we know nothing about at all and they become merely pointless screen fodder. And after sitting through the first half of Hostel I was begging for some nasty things to start happening to these people. Yet another film without a hero you can care about.

Which brings me to another huge flaw in this film. The first half plays like some poor teen sex comedy with nubile women getting their bits out and the men gawffing about doing drugs and getting some.

Everything in this film seems to come from Eli Roth's big book of stereotypes. From the comedy foreigner with as much charm as Avid Merrion or Borat, to women as sex objects or victims and of course self obsessed American teenagers after sex and drugs. The Slovakian town is grim and seems unaware the 21st century is upon us.

This film is both depressing and disappointing, I am disappointed in myself for not only believing the hype but actually wanting to see a film that is basically a torture fest. And it's depressing that this kind of film is so popular, with enough real horror on the news why do we need these films? What purpose do they serve?

Only of interest to horror purists.