An Effective Journey into Depravity in the Tradition of Last House on the Left

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2006)

First of all, let me say I didn't want to see Hostel. In fact, if you read some of the discussion threads, I have been quite vicious on the movie: purely from the idea of what the movie is comprised of, asking questions like if the next avenue for horror will be to watch Police films and snuff films for our scares. Indeed, were it not for a nagging voice in my head accusing me of being a hypocrite for writing the movie off without so much as a viewing, I would never have gone to see this film.
But I did, and I'm glad I did.
The story you know of Hostel is this: a pair of American backpackers and an Icelandic backpacker are backpacking through Europe, looking for the next big orgy or sexcapade to keep them interested in their journey. In Amsterdam, the promise of the red light district is something they take up with glee until one night, when they return to their Hostel and are locked out. To their surprise, a friendly Russian allows them to crawl up the fire escape and party with him.
He tells of a hostel in Bratislava, Slovakia, where the women are absolutely gorgeous, the sex is free and frequent, and he's quite certain that these two horny Americans and their hornier Icelandic friend can have the ultimate experience. At this point, I feel its important to interject a lesson: when you don't know someone, its best to smile and agree, but not take their advice.
As soon as they can manage it, the trio is on the next thing smoking to Bratislava. On the way, they encounter an elderly traveler who confirms their hopes about Bratislava, but freaks out the nice lad Josh when he makes a somewhat minor homosexual advance. Of course, Josh's reaction will be one that he will wish he could take back, but he will not get the opportunity.
In Bratislava, they are placed in a hostel room that is co-ed, and the two women in the room, both of whom are Russian, prove that their advice about Bratislava is correct. Things seem to be going good when our Americans Josh and Paxton bed their roommates.
However in the morning, they are told that their Icelandic traveling companion Oli has checked out, and they come across a photo of him and a Japanese girl who was also staying in the Hostel, provided by her traveling companion. It all feels too strange for Josh, but Paxton tries to convince him to give in to all of his desires as they didn't really know Oli at all, and he could very well have left them.
It turns out to be bad advice. They will soon find out that there is a torture/murder service available here that allows the highest bidder to live out his/her fantasies of torturing or killing another human being. Josh, Paxton, Oli, and all the others have been sold to be slaughtered for the highest bidder.
To provide anymore detail about the movie would eliminate the tension that the movie works so hard to create, so I will not go any further to reveal what happens. I will however say this: Hostel does have an abundance of gory, disturbing, torturous scenes that sensitive viewers will definitely find over the top, and so I believe a more mature audience is an absolute must.
The story in my opinion resembles "The Last House on the Left" not only due to the torture elements, but also due to the conclusion, which I feel actually renders this film as a very good one. Unlike with the abominable "Wolf Creek," "Hostel" does not hand over all of the power to the malicious, sadist, nor does it portray a preference for female suffering that gives it a very misogynistic feel. The victims in this movie do suffer, but something else comes out of them as well: a desperation, a defiance, compassion and a mean streak that balances out the movie to a very effective degree in my opinion.
The bad guy sometimes CAN be a woman. The good guy sometimes DOES try to help out others. The good guy can be forever changed by his encounter enough to take bloody revenge on those who so cruelly and coldly murdered people for money.
Eli Roth took the movie in a direction that I certainly didn't see coming- it was through moving in that direction that he places Hostel above movies like "High Tension" and "Wolf Creek." For the first time, we have a quality movie to compare to "Last House on the Left," and I for one enjoyed the journey, even if at times it is hard to watch and listen to!