Hostel or Hustle, you decide.

Rating: 4/10 (10 January 2006)

This type of horror fare is not my usual cup, but based on other viewers positive raves, I felt compelled to give it a try. Not without some trepidation did I purchase my ticket for what I felt would be a squeamish couple of hours. I don't know anything about director Eli Roth, but with Quentin Tarantino's name attached to the project I felt that there might be something here worth taking away.
Movie goers, save your money. This film uses the tried and true formula - college age students getting one good hedonistic fling out of their systems before real life, the gruesome depictions of mutilation and slasher gore, and the go for the gusto revenge rampage by the lead character Paxton (Jay Hernandez). I can't even say that any of the torture scenes were particularly innovative, though those faint of heart will require shielding the eyes every so often. Now based on what I've read, I'm sure the version I saw had deleted scenes for American audiences, but one's imagination is tested enough with this offering, and I can honestly say I didn't have to avert my eyes even once.
I recall reading one poster's summation stating that one would think about this film well after the movie was over. That indeed was the case, as my thirty minute ride home was entirely concerned with why I spent the time and money falling for the hype.