Gore, T&A, I think we know where this is going...

Rating: 5/10 (13 May 2011)

** out of (****)
"Hostel" isn't a historical landmark in cinema, nor does it have the slightest chance of snagging an Academy Award. Instead, it's a film with an interesting concept, but with incompetent directing and shoddy performances, it's middle-of-the-road at best. Roth can show the most disgusting, vile death that makes the hairs trickle on someone's back, but we'll still be left in the cold. Gore, T&A, I think we know where this is going...
Hostel revolves around a group of backpackers that meet up some voluptuous, twenty- somethings and drink, have sex, and crash a night. However, their idea of fun turns into a living hell when they are succumbed to torture and misery.
First of all, with a premise such as that of "Hostel", I don't think you'll hook your audience in with forty five minutes of pure filler. There's no character development. No purpose. It's not even entertaining. Booze, sex, boobs, nightclubs, all nighters. It's just not exciting or fascinating, especially with characters as flat as these. Thanks to the direction, which is very cheap. You can tell the film was made for less than 5 million.
However, all snarky comments aside, I did enjoy the film to some extent. I thought the last twenty minutes were exactly what this film should've been like. Gritty, suspense, and keeping you guessing on all accounts. All the chaos and mayhem just seep through the cracks.
All in all, Roth can throw as much skin and red fluids as he wants at the audience, but if you have an absence of character development and a non-existent story, the direction becomes corrupt. Roth, I appreciate the effort because I know somewhere along the way, a good film was made. Unfortunately, Roth didn't find that film.