Takes a while to get to the scary

Rating: 6/10 (23 July 2006)

I really wanted to like this one more. I have enormous respect and admiration for the people who made it. Strictly speaking, It took what felt like a long time to get to the point of the film. I've heard of the underground murder industry and believe me that is a scary world. I enjoyed the lead up to the midway point in the film, but it felt like two different movies. Without much connective tissue between them.
I also didn't feel empathy for the characters in the film that fall into jeopardy. It's probably because we spend so much time with them before the danger shows up that we realize that they're not that likable. I think we see too much of them and their juvenile behavior and it just wore thin. Kinda like nails on a chalkboard, for me at least. When the terror arrived, like a train late to the station, I guess I was too tired from standing, waiting on it, to enjoy the ride. I hope Hostel 2 is more successful in these tricky areas. And Hostel 3D... and Hostel 4: The Beginning... and Hostel V: Hotel Hell... and Hostel 7: Prey 2 Heaven!... and Hostel Ocho: Dark Night of the Gringos...