The HOSTEL Trilogy

HOSTEL

USA, 2005
Director: Eli Roth

6/10

"Hostel" is one of the most overrated horror movies of all time, directed by one of the most overrated horror directors of all time. Simple as that. It's not bad, but far from being 'the scariest', 'most brutal' or 'most important horror film of all time' as many critics and websites say.

 
The movie is quite funny and entertaining, with lots of funny dialogue lines and goofy characters. The 3 main 'heroes' are very likable, there's lots of gorgeous nude girls, and the acting is generally solid.

The gore / torture scenes are brutal and quite shocking (though not as shocking as some of the stuff Lucio Fulci or Ruggero Deodato did 20-30 years before), the Czech (not Slovakian) locations all look cool and haunting (Cesky Krumlov, the abanonded factory, the torture chambers), camera work and editing are pretty ace, and I love the crazy soundtrack.

Unfortunately, Eli Roth wasn't able to create any tension or suspense. Ok, there are a few fairly tense scenes in the second half, but nothing that kept me on the edge of my seat. Especially the first half is often so slow and tedious, it's just annoying. Who's to blame? Of course Mr. Roth  for his weak style-over-substance direction and his half-assed script that can't decide between realistic shocker and over-the-top exploitation.

Overall, "Hostel" is a nice 00s horror flick and one of the better so-called "torture porn" movies - not more and not less.

Wiki ~ Imdb

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HOSTEL: PART II

Alternate Title:
Hostel 2

USA, 2007
Director: Eli Roth

3/10

Part II is a horribly dumb, incredibly boring, completely unoriginal and extremely frustrating sequel that feels rushed and incomplete from beginning to end. I'd say it's more of a rehash than an actual sequel

The plot is way too similar to the first part, the main characters (girls and guys) are all quite unbearable, large parts of the scripts are completely stupid and make no sense, the plot twists are far-fetched and implausible, and apart from the intense hospital-scene, there's absolutely nothing thrilling or tense in here.

Furthermore, most of the torture scenes are pretty unimpressing, and scenes like the cut-off penis or the shot kid are just pointless.

At least, the opening is cool, the gory Bathory-scene is awesome and the camera work is once again wonderful. Nevertheless, I think it speaks for itself that Roth hasn't directed anything since Hostel 2

Wiki ~ Imdb

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HOSTEL: PART III

Alternate Title:
Hostel 3

USA, 2011
Director: Scott Spiegel

5/10

It's hard to tell if Part 3 is a better movie than Part 2. It's obviously a cheap and totally unnecessary sequel but at least it's surprisingly quite entertaining and not as frustrating as its predecessor.

The movie has an awful low-budget straight-to-DVD look, there's some TERRIBLE-looking CGI, Roth-replacement Scott Spiegel's direction feels vapid and lifeless, the plot is weird and confusing, the script is muddled and way too predictable,  most of the acting is pretty bad and the character development is nonexistent.

Fortunately, the are a few highly suspenseful scenes in the first half, the torture scenes are all quite creative (face ripping, cockroach invasion), and the crossbow-wielding woman's costume looks creepy as fuck.

 There's also lots of cool kills in the otherwise lame climax, the opening is fantastic and the soundtrack is quite ace.

Hardcore Eli Roth fans - stay away. Everyone else - give it a try.

Wiki ~ Imdb