Rich American Students Versus Sadistic Maniacs . Who Do We Root For ?

Rating: 4/10 (12 July 2013)

A trio of American students take a vacation across Europe indulging in all sorts of hedonistic naughtiness . Stopping in Prague one of their number goes missing and his two colleagues become concerned about his fate little realising a waking nightmare of their own is about to begin
This was released with a lot of hype almost entirely down to the name Quentin Tarantino appearing in the credits as executive producer . Wow we're going to see lots of post modernism and hear smart dialogue if Tarantino is involved . Well we would if an executive producer had much creative input but an executive producer is merely someone who raises the funds for the movie . If you're expecting a flamboyant European bad guy to steal the show then you'll be disappointed because the only stealing in this film will be two hours of your time
HOSTEL has two distinct halves . One of the American trio enjoying themselves by chilling and having casual sex with hot Czech chicks with silicon boobs and the other half involving some men with strange accents having some fun with the Americans and not a 34C silicone implant in sight
I will give the film some credit and that is it takes a lot for me to feel any sympathy for rich , hedonistic American pretty boys in any circumstance and HOSTEL did manage to elicit some sympathy out of my sociopathic misanthropic heart . This sums up the film's problem and that is the selling point is the cruel and explicit violence . Director Eli Roth isn't really interested in fleshing out characterisation or atmosphere any other aspect of the movie and instead the whole function of the movie's existence revolves around the gore and sadistic brutal violence . It's just the basic over used premise of horny American teenagers finding themselves in dire peril with the violence being so graphic it started off a new phrase - " torture porn "