Here's another take on HOSTEL... figured I'd add it to the group rather than starting another thread...
HOSTEL
All I can say is I hope the studio has the guts to release Eli Roth’s ‘Hostel’ as is. I was lucky enough to be at the screening last night at the Bridge and this is one hell of a movie, and a true reminder of what a horror movie ought to be. In the survey after the screening we were told to fill in the films that this reminded us of and it was hard to think of any film like this. I wrote down Tobe Hooper’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and Roeg’s “Don’t Look Now.” And if you know both of those films I think you’ll understand what high praise that comparison is.
I liked “Cabin Fever” allright, but it never seemed to me to find it’s tone. I couldn’t decide if Mr. Roth was making a comedy, or a straight out slasher movie, or a stright out homage. But I was impressed that he had gotten it made, and had gotten so much attention for the movie. I was curious to see what he was going to do next, but my money was riding on Mr. Roth cashing in and making “The Ring 3” or “House of Wax 2.”
He didn’t. He made what I honestly believe to be the scariest American movie in a decade. The screening last night marked the first time I have watched a movie through my fingers since I was eight years old. “Hostel” is balls out movie making and the entire theater seemed aware they were sitting in front of something special. As a straight up slasher movie it delivers all and more that you could hope for from the genre, but “Hostel” goes one further and the result is a complex examination of the excesses of American culture and the lowering of our values to the point that we make sport out of other peoples lives.
One of the pleasures of Roth’s film, and there are many, is how satisfying it is before it gets scary. It feels like every story you’ve been told by the twentysomething buddy who toured Europe between school and the real world. The two American boys, Paxton and Josh (played by Jay Hernandez and Derek Richardson respectively) have backpacked from one historic European local to another focusing on booze and broads, and picking up a Nordic weirdo, Oli (played wonderfully by Eythor Gudjonsson). These guys are fun to watch, and their friendships and circumstances seem true enough for a film that claims to be inspired by true events.
But the film soon turns, and it turns hard. This is undoubtedly the most upsetting film I have seen in a theater in a long time. “Hostel’s” excessive in it’s gore and violence, and unlike any number of crappy movies its excess is there for a reason. This movie is about our culture’s inability to be satisfied, it’s need for more and more and more, and what that greed and inhumanity will cost in the end. If I am making it sound less like a movie and more like a film I intend to. “Hostle” is a rich and thought provoking film, and it has a deeply troubling ending that I will be thinking about for a long time to come.
Eli Roth has graduated from the promising if uncertain work of “Cabin Fever” into a true film maker who is dedicated to something deeper and richer than the bulk of mainstream cinema. I look forward to seeing “Hostel” again, but more so I look forward to seeing what Roth has next in store.
Hey folks, Harry here with 4 more reviews on HOSTEL. The first 3, quite positive, the last absolutely hated it. I'll tell ya right now - there is definitely a portion of the audience out there that just won't be able to handle this flick and just write it off entirely. But - this is exactly the sort of horror that we've seen coming from the best of Asian horror that ISN'T BEING REMADE because it scares the living shit out of studios. It's horror that dares you to look at it and not turn away. After SIN CITY - I can't wait to see KNB's make-up work on this one. Should be great - with KILL BILL, SIN CITY and LAND OF THE DEAD - they've got their splatter work down to a fine art. Anyway - here ya go...
Hey Harry, don't know if you'll have enough of these already by morning to go round, but I thought I'd briefly weigh in on the Hostel screening at the Cinema de Lux here in Los Angeles...
Well first I just want to say that I go to two or three preview screenings a month and have never really been interested in writing in and sharing my views with the movie-loving world that reads AIC religiously...I'm not especially observant or articulate or usually even moved enough to shout out my reaction, but...well...let's put it this way, it's nearly 4 A.M. and I'm still wide-eyed awake, thinking about the movie I just saw...I guess for the first time I feel entirely compelled to voice my opinion.
"Hostel" is a deep dark manhole of a movie. You're walking down the street, not a care in the world, whistling a happy tune, and all of a sudden you're falling down through the darkness, and it's getting darker and darker, and suddenly you find yourself face down in a pile of sewage. This movie has all those things, the joy and carelessness of youth (a particularly sexually active youth), the shock of something unexpected being thrust upon you, the thrill and suspense of a seemingly endless plummet into what could possibly end up being hell, and finally a world of sickness...dirty dirty sickness.
Maybe the metaphor is lame, but I don't want to bother summing up the movie (I'm sure there's lots of that to be found on the web), I want to sum up my emotional reaction. I don't know if I'd call it a great movie...all I know is it left me shaken and intrigued and disturbed and, above all else, craving a second viewing. This movie means business, much more so than the recent Hollywood fare we've been treated to lately...Amityville...The Grudge...Dark Water...even Devil's Rejects, those were all so comic-booky, this was like a deep breath of fresh air. Far as horror movies go, this was the real deal...because, quite frankly, it felt real. It felt possible. It's a big scary world out there, and maybe this shit goes on overseas, and maybe it doesn't, but it plays on our basic fears of stepping off the beaten path and venturing into foreign lands.
Just to give a little bit of substance to this review, I'll round it off with a couple of meaty tid-bits. First off, Roth continues his sort of post-modern affair with the horror film here, but his influences are more subtle and mature. Listen closely and you'll hear a remix of the famous "Willow's theme" from The Wicker Man, perhaps the best example of a fish-far-out-of-water story. Or a nod to Japan's ultra-violent "Suicide Club." And even the much talked about Miike appearance...it is not just a fun, haphazard cameo. It is very deliberate, very calculated, and though very quick, it is also very creepy when thought about in the context of post-modernism. Additionally there is a swift scene comprised of stolen glances in a museum of torture (that does not take place during the film's detour into a wax museum of torture
I doubt I'll ever feel compelled to write in again as I rarely leave a preview screening feeling like this, but if I do, you all can call me...
The Googlemeister
And here's Mook Murdoc with his take...
Harry,
I see you already have one dedicated Hostel review posted, not sure if you are looking for more...but in case you are, here goes...
Hostel. Eli Roth's follow-up to Cabin Fever. Let's say if Cabin Fever was a base hit, Hostel knocked it out of the park. The story has been properly laid out by the other guys reviews...I wanna talk about the little things. God is in the details as they say.
The cinematography in this film was excellent. Even if it wasn't 100% color corrected, you could still see that there was this hazy aquamarine and hazel tint to the Euro vistas and some nice carbon hazard grays with reds and greens in the "exhibit" areas. My particular favorite shots were the shadows on the doorway scene, the introduction to the town with the "Hostel" and the interior shots of the "factory" which looks like every old ass factory in every town USA.
The nudity is there but nothing we have not seen before. I mean tits and ass are great(I hate implants) but every movie can throw that your way. Sure, East Euro girls are hot...but a dime a dozen on any Czech website.
The true stand-out for me was Jay Hernandez. He was authentic from start to finish. Cocky, brash and typical "guy" one minute then human, smart and clever the next. The dialogue was smart and funny with some nice details on how guys "bond" with one another. We can be homo-eccentric dumb asses at any given moment. All in all a superior horror flick to Cabin Fever.
I overheard some guys chiming on about no character development. This ain't an effin' Merchant/Ivory picture...this is full-on what the hell is happening to me audience ride. The character development was good for what the genre dictates. Lastly, the pacing and unveiling of the plot was glacial then slippery ice fast. It works perfectly here. There are some nice twists and turns and clever ways to see how revenge can be exacted. Crappy black cars and bubblegum, baby. Eli Roth was in attendance. He struck me as a cool down to earth guy(hear that Ratner) who said thank you when I worded "great flick, Roth" to him. I sadly was not picked for the focus group after. All in all, this was a kick ass can't-wait-to buy-the-dvd type of flick. Good work Eli.
Mook Murdoc
And here's another rave...
Caught HOSTEL tonight at The Bridge. You've never seen anything like this before. It's similar in structure to AUDITION, but is entirely its own beast. The first two acts are mere set-up, misdirection...an hour long red herring...the last act...as you've read (and I'll reiterate here)... is truly disturbing.
Three backpackers, two Americans, one Icelander, trek to a hostel paradise where tales tell of gorgeous women and endless fucking. They find exactly what they're looking for. What they don't expect to find is-- themselves wrapped up in a gut-wrenching fight for their lives. People on message boards keep asking for spoilers, please, I beg of you, stop asking. Going into this an ignoramus is the best way. If you do stumble across detailed spoilers, I think the movie is still gonna hit you hard. This shit crawled under my skin...unsettled me in ways I'm still discovering. The last shots in the film reveal a deep emotional and thematic complexity at the very lest minute! This is rare. And those last images are striking.
On another note, it's not gonna matter if you dug on Cabin Fever or hated on it...this movie, other than some of the opening humor, could be from another filmmaker all together. It stands on its own. And, it stands as one of the most original horror movies in a long time. Ain't nothing Grudge or Ring about this one.
-- Sardu
Then here's the one negative I've gotten thus far - from some one calling himself Ego. If you notice - this review doesn't reference any other horror film this guy has seen. Whereas the reviewers above seem to have a working knowledge of Miike - which this film was done as an inspiration from - which would lead to deliberate pacing paid off with full on horror. So far on the site we've seen 6 raves and 1 negative - here it is...
I gave you a review for Edison, but you didnt use that for whatever reason. Well post this one up! First time reviewer, so cut me some slack!
hey. i read the review that Will Dearborn gave for Hostel, and I was at that screening as well. I could disagree more with him about this movie.
It starts off well, only because you think you are about to see something great. Then nothing happens. Then more nothing. Then something weird. but more nothing. More stupid dialogue. 3 characters I dont give a shit about. The only thing it had going for it really in the beginning was Roth made you really feel detached from all civilization that we are used to, and that was enough to keep u slightly interested for the next half hour. I kept waiting to jump, but never wanted to. The tits on all the girls looked great, and was probably another main reason I kept watching, because the movie itself wasnt helping any. and do not let me get started on the ending to this movie. This has GOT to be the most abrupt unsatisfying anticlimatic endings to a movie I have EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! You put us thru that last 25 mins of the movie for an ending that just stops on a dime. Pathetic. I dont care how smart people want to think this movie is, the parallels to american culture etc etc. None of that shit matters if the movie is NO GOOD! All the blood and gore was all fine and good, and I laughed at people leaving (a few moviegoers even yelled out obsenities at the ones who left) but hey, it might have been they just didnt think it was worth it. Once it was all over, I sure as hell didnt tho so. How am I supposed to cheer for a guy who drops not ONE, but TWO loaded guns to pick up the smallest weapon he could find,basically a hammer, in a room filled with axes and machetes? What a moron. and you are a moron too if you go see this.
If you use this, and call me EGO
