Review of Hostel: Part II (2007) by Thequietgamer — 23 Oct 2017

Roth's revisiting of the Hostel concept follows largely the same outline as the original. However, Part II has more going for it than just a gender swap with the protagonists. Roth took the time focus more on the elements that worked in the first film, and less on the ones that didn't. He also ups the gore and violence while simultaneously giving us more insight as to how exactly the whole Hostel situation works. The scale is larger and things are a little more brutal this time around, but there's no hiding the fact that it's not as original and loses the mystery in favor of more visual horror. Think of it as more like a remake where some improvements were made.

The fact that we know what's going on this time around should have robbed the movie of some of what made it successful the first time around. However, it's Roth's ability to the ante that keeps things solid. With more of torture taking place onscreen the movie goes for a more sleazy route in entertainment. The blood is gratuitous, the deaths are twisted, and the grimier visual style and environments is very reminiscent of the Saw series. Essentially Part II really embraces the "torture porn" angle. There is something kind of sick about that, but Roth keeps things from being too morally revolting by including some dark humor that helps keep things lighter and more playful. Because of that it never crosses into that realm of almost being a straight snuff film.

I appreciated how this time around the humor was kept more around the gallows as opposed to the gutter. There's still nudity and some sex, but this is far from the raunchy sex comedy it's predecessor was. The girls are still up for a party, but their far less obnoxious that the frat bros we previously hung out with. It makes them more likable, even if the main is that perfect pretty girl who everything works out for no matter what the situation apparently. Leaner and meaner, Hostel proves worth revisiting in Part II. Roth trimmed the fat from the first movie and loves letting this sequel flex it's new muscles with some more violent scenes and a little more insight as to how the whole setup works. It's still a little bare bones in the actual plot department and some scenes are still a little slow, but at the end of the day this is still one of those rare movie sequels that's an actual improvement on the original. Something made possible because of how much more gruesome and to the point it is. Roth cut the crap and focused on the action. Now if only he could make something a little more substantial. The basic thrills are still worth something though.

7.