Quentin Tarantino Presents: Hostel

[Nuts]

Saw this last night on DVD.

While Quentin Tarantino was only involved in concept, this film was absolutely stunning for a horror flick. Not in my recollection can I remember actually being squeamish when watching a movie. This film has the typical nudity and language, but it really shined in the second half.

Eli Roth is a fascinating director/writer as he seems to know what buttons to push. Local talent added to the realism of the film shot on location in Prague. And although the film was somewhat disingenuous to the locale, it still made for a believable experience.

If anyone has seen this movie, or intends to, please tell me what you thought of Rick Hoffman's character. I won't elaborate any further so as not to spoil anything.

For the minors, you might not want to watch this with your parents, much less let them know that you have watched it. This film was worthy of an NC-17 rating, but somehow it managed an R. Eli Roth credits Rob Zombie for pushing the limits on Devil's Rejects. :)

By the way, for comparison sakes, this movie makes Saw and SawII look like Sesame Street.

[dunchy]

**Spoilers**

Hostel is such a love/hate relationship with me, but I could easily agree that Eli Roth is a very, very interesting director, to say the least. In some aspects of the film, it fired on all cylinders whereas others fell flat faced.

To start with, this movie took far, far too long to get into. I thought for a moment I rented American Pie 4: Amsterdam edition with what was going on. Understanding the need to character developement and plot oulining is understandable, but the flow of the movie I just couldn't get into like I did with Saw 1 or 2. The first half of the film could have been cut easily by 15-30 minutes and the flow would have improved by far.

Plot inconsistencies seemed to happen a bit too often for me. Flash to car chase scene at the end. How many people live in Amsterdam? I think many. But Paxston ran into the 3 that: convinced him to go to the hostel, kill both his friends and he just watches the payoff happen right in front of him! Those kind of events just make me think how stupid moviegoes must be lately if a "oh my god" reaction to that event happens. We know you got used and your friends are in on it, our imaginations are active if you don't spell things out for us all the time.

On to the postitive.

This was the a terrific horror film when it gets flowing. The scenes made me squeamish and disturbed to watch the movie, something that horror films are supposed to do. It's not just the 'shock value' scenes that get me going, it's the torturer talking about how he will kill and maime his victim. That sort of thing is really cool for me to watch. (for the record I had a big 6 paragraph section here, but my computer died out and I'm just too hungover/exhausted to write another one, sorry guys).

As to Rick Hoffman's character, I think he was the best part of the film. Having such a glee towards murdering a helpless victim would sent shivers down the average persons spine. It's a defining moment in the film, if not *the* for me. Horror directors can learn you don't need blood everywhere to make you squirm in your seat. Hoffman's character, although short air time - was just awesome. Good pickup on him Nuts.

All in all, it's a great film but I found it to only be half there. The bad half is with Stiffler and the gang from American Pie and Eurotrip.

I'll have to post later on Saw/Hostel...such different films.

[Kingscrab]

I'd love to see this one, actually! Looked pretty damn creepy. Um, yeah. Not much more to say i guess. I will go rent it soon. :)

[GrassDragon]

I had originally intended to see it in theaters with my dad. We usually go and see every horror flick in theaters together, and Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite director's. Then my dad heard about the gory scenes (power drill to the face?) and decided he didn't want to see it. At 16 I can't get into R rated movies by myself. I heard drom a few people that there was basically no story, but your review seems to imply differently. I guess I could obtain it through other means if it's more than just plotless gore.

[Nuts]

This film most definitely has a plot, albeit a simple one. It's very edgy in the sense that you don't really know where the story is going from one moment to the next. As for the power drill to the face, well....let's just say that you have your tools and body parts mixed up. ;)

*possible spoilers ahead*

dunchy, I concur, the first portion of the movie was relatively meaningless, but I felt that much of it was meant to familiarize us with the characters. For instance, the whole steam room scene was intended to setup other aspects of the plot. The only portion that I found completely useless was the scene where they were in the kids apartment and the couple were, ummm, being romantic? That was just gratuitous.