Artists never take things too seriously.

Rating: 9/10 (14 January 2006)

Let me start off by saying that you really shouldn't take this movie too seriously. The concept is awesome - that is, where people pay to torture innocent victims just for the rush. It could very well be real (although I really hope not). Plus, there is plenty of sex to go around, and there is some of the most gruesome violence I've ever seen in a movie. From a completely shallow point of view, I loved it.
The basic plot, leading up to the torture, etc., is very shallow as well, but because it is more just a prelude to the real meat of the story, it doesn't have much negative effect on the movie as a whole. More than anything, it is just ridiculous, so it is really just something to laugh at and enjoy for the sex and nude scenes.
At the end of the movie, when all was finished, I was wondering if there were any major flaws, like there were in Saw (which was similar in many respects). To my amazement, there was really nothing that they forgot to do in closing the story! I was very impressed with how professional and well directed Hostel was. It gets a 9 out of 10, because it obviously wasn't the best movie ever, but it was pretty damn good.