Success!

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2006)

Tarantino's name holds a lot of power. This is because he is an incredible filmmaker whose taste in movies is clearly shown through his works. Based on this, people can easily tell if they enjoy the same types of things as he does; mainly violent sadistic ones. He obviously loves classic horror. With this in mind, putting his stamp of approval on Hostel by co-creating the concept and using his own money on distribution, is making a bold claim. When he paid for Hero to be released in the states, he became a force to be reckoned with. No one will argue Tarantino's taste. Hostel is a horror movie. I mean this in the most straightforward way. After an admittedly intentionally bland and typical opening half hour, the film is horrific and hyper-realistic. You are terrified and exhilarated, realizing that the movie is not just commenting on torture, but about us -- the audience who pays to watch this torture on the screen and get so much enjoyment out of it, even if it is purely from the endorphins and adrenaline. However, it does not condescend. No cheap one liners, no Uwe Boll action sequences. Torture, death, and a boatload of fear. Thank you Eli Roth for reminding us why we go to horror movies. I enjoyed Cabin Fever, but now I respect you as one of the great horror directors of this time.