ZoeMovieReviews: Hostel(2005)

Hostel

 

This is a 2005 American horror film written, produced, and directed by Eli Roth and starring Jay Hernandez. It is the first instalment of the Hostel film series, followed by Hostel: Part II, released on June 8, 2007, and Hostel: Part III, released on December 27, 2011.

 

The Plot

The film tells the story of two college students traveling across Europe, who find themselves in the middle of a business in which wealthy clients pay to torture and kill kidnapped victims. While stopping in Amsterdam to indulge their tastes for drugs and sex, they meet Oli a like-minded traveller from Iceland. When the three bachelors set off to investigate enticing rumours of a Slovakian hostel in a city populated by lusty women, they find themselves drawn unwittingly into a deadly game.

 

Well, this film is different. I have never seen a film like this, I know it’s meant to be similar to saw – that I can’t justify as I haven’t seen saw. Yes, I know guys!! I need to see more of the well-known horror films, but there are so many!!!

 

The college students seemed like assholes at the start, which when they got tortured I honestly didn’t care. The scene when Oli was singing the Russian song with the Russian woman I thought that was funny, made me smile a little.

 

There are some cool gory scenes in this film. The scene when the Dutch Businessman slices Josh's Achilles tendons and removes his chains and Josh attempts to crawl to the door but then is killed by the Dutch Businessman, who slices his throat with a scalpel. That was pretty cool scene.

The scene when Paxton pukes and two of he’s fingers get cut off by the chainsaw was pretty cool. I did find it was funny when Johann lunges at Paxton with the chainsaw he slips on the gag and severs his own leg. Paxton reaches for a gun and shoots Johann in the head. That was pretty awesome.

 

The scenes when Paxton’s escaping the cells are pretty intense. He rescues Kana, who is being tortured by the American burning her eye with a blowtorch that was intense as well.  After killing the American client Paxton cuts Kana's limp eye and they flee in a stolen car. Yet again this was another intense scene.

 

I felt sorry for Kana when she sees a reflection of her disfigured face Kana leaps in the path of an oncoming train.

 

I really liked the ending when Paxton gets revenge on The Dutch Businessman. When Paxton severs the same two fingers he lost with a scalpel and enters the stall and nearly drowns the Dutch Businessman in the toilet before slitting his throat. I was glad he did that because of what the Dutch businessman did to he’s friend, so good on him for doing that!

 

The acting was great. The music in this made the vibe of the film tense and eerie. That suited the film very well.


The downside to this film is the first half isn't so great and the film takes a while before it starts showing  all the horror elements and gore scenes.

 

Overall, I liked this film a lot. There is some great gore in this!! The acting was great in this film. Only downside is the first half isn't so great and the film takes a while before it starts showing  all the horror elements and gore scenes. I would recommend this to anyone who likes horrors. If you have seen saw then you’ll like this! It’s worth watching and I cannot wait to review parts 2 & 3 of this franchise!  

Rating:6.5/10