He borrows from the best... Horror beyond imagination

Rating: 8/10 (20 September 2005)

You are unlikely to find another contemporary American horror movie with as much intensity and style as this one. While it pales against some of the contemporary Asian flicks it aspires towards (Ichi, Sympathy for Mr. Vengenace), Hostel is nonetheless a strong contender for the most intense American horror film made, with stylish gruesomeness intact. A fine addition to this year's Toronto International Film Festival Midnight Madness slot, even in the work-in-progress form.
While Cabin Fever had the usual slew of volunteer actors, I found that several performances in this flick were top notch, transcending the genre ghetto into real, capital-A "acting". Jan Vlasák is great as the creepy train-main, but particular note must be made of Jay Hernandez's "Paxton" role. I don't think I've ever seen a twenty something role played with as much believability in some time, he totally nails the American-in-Europe schtick without ever overdoing it. While some of his acting compatriots strut their stuff in scenes of agony, Hernandez actually rises above it all and creates a nuanced, completely authentic performance.
Shot in Prague, the locations are suitably decrepit. You can almost feel the smarmyness of the Hostel, the rank of the dungeons, the smell of the hash in the Amsterdam sex clubs. If you think too hard about the flick you'll find all kinds of clever interplay between the early scenes where the boys are lecherous schmucks to the setting of their eventual doom, but that would be silly. This is popcorn fun with popped-out eyeballs, ample buckets of blood without overdoing it to the point of comic overexuberence. At times, this film is downright badass.
In an age of PG-13 "horror" flicks taking the theatres by storm, it's hard to see what wide audience a flick of this nature will find. Still, it's got enough of a plot to keep it interesting, and enough intensity (when it finally arrives) to please all by the most jaded of genre fans. Not a masterpiece, but certainly a fun ride, and with the help of rabid support from the likes of Exec. Producer Q.T., it should do very well among a select audience of horror fans. Let's all hope that Roth continues to learn from the masters, and that he finds success in bringing this type of stylish gore to mainstream American cinemas.