2008 Woodie Awards
Two-hour 'Hostel' takeover
Trent Orris
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: A&E
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One thing is for certain: Vice President Cheney would not be a supporter of torture if he saw Eli Roth's "Hostel". Then again, he's a little dodgy with the heart, so that probably wouldn't be the best idea.
In "Hostel," two American teenagers and an Icelandic drifter travel to Amsterdam for the same reason many young Americans travel to Amsterdam: sex and marijuana. Things take a serious turn for the worst, however, as the boys soon discover their friends mysteriously vanishing without a trace. To where? Well, you've seen the previews.
Note that although "Hostel" appears on the surface to merely be another gross-out movie, it is no Rob Zombie picture. Those who come to see flesh and gore will see plenty (two words: Snip-snip) but in reality you think you're seeing more than you actually do, thanks to some skillful editing.
"Hostel" also has something more than most horror movies nowadays: an actual story. Roth is not merely shocking the audience for shock value alone, which would result in a disgusting but not scary film.
Taking into account the blatant disregard for human rights that arose in the former Soviet Union the Cold War ended, as well as the unfortunate discovery of CIA 'torture cells' across the globe, you get the feeling that this could really happen - a torture 'fun-house' like the one in the movie could really exist. That is the most frightening thing.
Roth also forces the audience to ask questions about the dark side of human nature. Certainly the boys come off in the beginning as rude, lascivious and lacking decency, but the movie questions whether they deserve anything like the punishment they receive. And who are the real villains-the people who own the torture chamber? Those who pay to use it? It seems as though everyone in the movie has an evil side, with nobody and everybody able to point fingers.
Even the audience is implicated. That's right, the audience. After all, they knew what the movie was about when they bought their tickets. Maybe they see a little bit of themselves in the sadists who will pay $25,000 for the experience of killing another human being.
Those who are prepared and willing to see "Hostel" will get exactly what they wanted and more; the squeamish need not apply. And if there is one lesson to learn from "Hostel," it's this: Whenever a gang of Eastern European children ask you for bubble gum, give it to them.
In "Hostel," two American teenagers and an Icelandic drifter travel to Amsterdam for the same reason many young Americans travel to Amsterdam: sex and marijuana. Things take a serious turn for the worst, however, as the boys soon discover their friends mysteriously vanishing without a trace. To where? Well, you've seen the previews.
Note that although "Hostel" appears on the surface to merely be another gross-out movie, it is no Rob Zombie picture. Those who come to see flesh and gore will see plenty (two words: Snip-snip) but in reality you think you're seeing more than you actually do, thanks to some skillful editing.
"Hostel" also has something more than most horror movies nowadays: an actual story. Roth is not merely shocking the audience for shock value alone, which would result in a disgusting but not scary film.
Taking into account the blatant disregard for human rights that arose in the former Soviet Union the Cold War ended, as well as the unfortunate discovery of CIA 'torture cells' across the globe, you get the feeling that this could really happen - a torture 'fun-house' like the one in the movie could really exist. That is the most frightening thing.
Roth also forces the audience to ask questions about the dark side of human nature. Certainly the boys come off in the beginning as rude, lascivious and lacking decency, but the movie questions whether they deserve anything like the punishment they receive. And who are the real villains-the people who own the torture chamber? Those who pay to use it? It seems as though everyone in the movie has an evil side, with nobody and everybody able to point fingers.
Even the audience is implicated. That's right, the audience. After all, they knew what the movie was about when they bought their tickets. Maybe they see a little bit of themselves in the sadists who will pay $25,000 for the experience of killing another human being.
Those who are prepared and willing to see "Hostel" will get exactly what they wanted and more; the squeamish need not apply. And if there is one lesson to learn from "Hostel," it's this: Whenever a gang of Eastern European children ask you for bubble gum, give it to them.