For years before Hostel was released, there was a lack of horror films that actually did what they said on the tin. Hostel changed that, and took us once again into a world of limitless terror on film. Three travellers end up in a small town in Slovakia, searching for the free-sex paradise described to them by a stranger. Before long, their sex and booze-filled adventure becomes a living nightmare, as the characters are subjected to some of the most terrible acts of violence a person can imagine. The early part of the film keeps the fear to a minimum, and it cleverly gets you caring for the characters as the story unfolds, making the inevitable torture scenes a much more horrific experience. It's hard not too feel sorry for the victims. What stands out is the film's ruthless desire to sicken the stomach, dishing out the shocks in good measure. The film also explores man's flesh-related cravings; the travellers' yearning for sexual adventures is paralleled by the villains' lust to inflict pain and suffering on the human body. Hostel does paint a very graphic picture of how cruel one human can be to another, and makes a point of trying to understand that there are indeed two very different human sides to this twisted world. There'll be moments when you look away in disgust and cover your mouth, as the films drags you through the hellish intensity. Hostel lives up to its potential, in that Eli Roth wanted to make a film that, when you strip it down, scares the living daylights out of you. It's become a classic, not just in the horror genre, but in film generally. Hostel is a gripping and, without a doubt, uncompromisingly brutal film that you wont forget in a hurry.
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Production Year: 1984 - Horror - Director: Joe Dante - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, Frances Lee McCain, Judge Reinhold, Corey Feldman
Production Year: 2002 - Horror - Director: Danny Boyle - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Cillian Murphy, Megan Burns, Noah Huntley, Christopher Eccleston, Marvin Campbell, Brendan Gleeson
Re-rated based on Ciao's insistence that such reviews are no longer considered "Off Topic"
Soho_Black 18.08.2008 17:22
I see you've posted this as a DVD review, but you've not mentioned the DVD features. Are there any extras? If so, what are they and are they any good? If you add to this, or if you change it to be posted as a "Film Only" review, which can be done by accessing "edit review" above the review and changing the drop down menu under the "Which format are you reviewing?" question at the bottom, please let me know and I'll re-rate.
headcase44 21.07.2008 22:58
Hello and welcome to Ciao. A good first review. Thanks. J.
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excessive-skin-displayed-before-gruesome-bloody-to rture-begins genre--Hostelfollows two randy Americans (Jay Hernandez,Friday Night Lights, and Derek Richardson,Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd) and an even randier I...
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![Quentin Tarantino Presents : Hostel [2005] [DVD] [2006]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78487819.jpg "Quentin Tarantino Presents : Hostel [2005] [DVD] [2006]")
Jul 21st, 2008
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