Review of Hostel (2011) by Jonny B — 22 Aug 2012

Eli Roth's shoe-string budgeted bloody extravaganza has a repetitive plot, shallow characterisation but its disturbing moments leave the desired affect.

Josh (Derek Richardson), Paxton (Jay Hernandez) and Oli (Eythor Gudjonsson) are three backpackers who are intent on travelling across Europe to a destination which they were tipped off as their perfect destination - women, drugs and booze! However, when Oli disappears having seemingly left the boys for a woman he has just met, the two remaining become suspicious. It's not long before the typically gruesome slasher movie occurs and it doesn't end pretty!

Generally, when you fall into the B-Movie horror category, you get something along the lines of mediocre. Hostel epitomises this as its plot - though daring - is uninteresting, not very imaginable and rather cliched. It's three main characters feel like stereotypical adults with poor intellect - little personality at all. There are numerous twists as the movie prods along however they are a little obvious and ridiculous.

Having said all of this, the scenes of torture are despicably disgusting; at times these scenes make you shudder and cover your eyes! Although horrific, director Roth should be given credit for the way he choreographed the scenes and made them so disturbing. If you haven't taken it in, this is NOT a movie for younger children!