Review of Hostel (2006) by Liam U — 17 Dec 2011
This is one of only a handful of films that disturbed me.
I was genuinely shocked, horrified and appalled.
I think if you actually ENJOYED watching this you're a bit of a sick puppy; the intention was to terrify and horrify, and it certainly did that in spades.
Why is this different from the many other run-of-the-mill gore fests out there? Because, in this age of mass communication via the internet, it could actually HAPPEN.
Apart from that, I thought the execution of the film was very, very good. The first half has a feel of Porky's but set in Europe; young guys let loose to sate their hedonistic appetites. Now if it had stayed like that throughout, I'd have hated it (as I did Porky's). But the contrast between this first half and the horror to follow was truly shocking.
It wasn't the graphic violence (there didn't seem to be that much), I think it was the screams of palpable terror and pain...
It was a good movie in as much as it does what it says on the tin - it horrifies. But I didn't sleep too well afterwards. I felt curiously jumpy and afraid - and depressed about the black heart of mankind. All the great fright fests work on our fears that what we are seeing could actually happen. Well, this certainly COULD...
This review of Hostel (2006) was written by Liam U on 17 Dec 2011.
Hostel has generally received mixed reviews.
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