Hostle is everything I want in a horror movie

Rating: 10/10 (13 April 2006)

When I initially saw previews for Hostle, I was totally turned off. It looked too much like Saw, and it was produced by Quentin Tarantino, which to me usually says that the movie isn't good enough to stand on its own, so advertisers use a good name to draw crowds into theaters.
However, I later realized that it was written and directed by Eli Roth, and I absolutely loved Cabin Fever, so this revived my hopes. Hostel proved to be everything that I expect in a good horror. It had humor and gore (the gore was very well done. The movie didn't rely on lame CGI effects. All special effects were old school i.e. make-up, prosthetics etc), and it left you feeling good. What I mean by "feeling good" is that it wasn't weighed down by the whole "psychological thriller" thing. It was a feel good horror/gore film, sort of like Peter Jackson's Bad Taste or Dead Alive, but with a bigger budget.
What I love the most about Eli Roth's films is the way he quotes great classic horror, whether it be with a character, or with a particular kill, or the way something is filmed, something always rings true and familiar, and at the same time he ironically makes fun of new Hollywood blockbusters by always having a lame character from like Euro Trip or something terrible.
Anyway, a lot of people may find this combination of old school horror and sell-out Hollywood to be lame or whatever, but I think it is brilliant and totally intentional, and I am anticipating many more great films from Eli Roth.