Disappointing, yet successful

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2006)

No, I do not think this movie was good. And no, my idea of the "scariest movie in years" is NOT a porno-turned-gorefest. However, connections with DLB aside, Hostel actually gave you a very dark, sickly feeling in your stomach. While I do not consider this to be pleasant, it means the creators of this film were both visually and atmospherically successful. Very few movie makers are capable of this admirable feat. Besides, why else would you go to a movie about torture-for-pleasure other than to be grossed out? Yes, Eli Roth screwed up big time with Cabin Fever, and yes, Hostel was little more than a teen sex romp with some bloodshed (much less than expected, I might add), but the fact that you can feel the horrifying sensation of helplessly begging for mercy at the hands of some sadistic surgeon in the middle of nowhere, Slovakia means that Quentin Tarantino must be doing something right.