Castration Anxiety & Primal Urges

Rating: 9/10 (6 January 2006)

On the surface, Hostel appears to be a glee-fest of sadism and gore, and it's clear from those leaving negative reviews that their examination did not delve deeper. Underneath the limbs and blood, one can see an interesting use of primal fears and anxieties (such as castration and sexual anxieties) that are effectively used to heighten the viewers' unease and sense of identification with the protagonists. Whether this was intentional on the directors part or an unconscious expression of his latent fears of sexual identity is up for debate. In any event, I found the movie to be effective, surprisingly multi-layered, and most importantly...enjoyable.
I would add that the director aptly manipulates the audience into cheering for the very torture that disgusted them 30 minutes earlier. The sadistic assault upon the senses is palpable enough to elicit the very same satisfaction in carrying out revenge that the protagonist undertakes at the end of the film. Many will not notice this phenomenon or know how to label their feelings, but those reflective enough will leave the theater with the sour taste of knowing that he/she could be capable of the very same thing.
Mature audiences only. I worry about those who see this film without regard or a little soul-searching.