Katley May (MovieBuff27)

Its official, as a nation the United States is not only capable of making second rate remakes, we are actually able to turn out something all original, and freaking awesome. After the unbelievably amazing Cabin Fever that we got in 2002 I was stoked to hear that Eli Roth was doing a sophomore movie, and even more excited that it was going to be in the torture sub genre. The only hesitation that I ever had about this movie was, is it going to go bold and original or fall into the same Saw crap that we've been seeing left and right. Luckily the final turn out of Hostel was not like Saw or any other horror flick I've ever seen. So the plot is based around some young guys taking a backpacking trip through Europe. One thing turns into another and they end up staying at a Hostel that doubles as a scope out for a secret club in which people pay some big bucks to kill people, Americans being a favorite. It sounds all original and that is because it is. In movies today there just seems to be a formula that everyone follows, every director, every actor, every writer, just everyone. And only on a blue moon does someone through the formula out the window, and that is exactly what Roth did. The movie was so unpredictable and engrossing, that by the time its over you'll feel like you just sat down. As for acting, this could have easily been a flaw in the film. It would have been incredible easy for everyone to skimp on actors and put more of the money to something no one watching the movie would notice. But instead we got fresh faces who actually knew what they were doing. If you are or ever were a horny teenager you are going to be able to relate to these characters. Gore, hmmmmmmm I do not even know where to start. I don't want to spoil anything but let's just say you get a lot and lot of red stuff. Some of it including , eyeball drilling, scalpel action, mangled bodies, decapitation and so, so much more. When reading reviews about this movie I can't tell you how many times I've read how it took too long to get to the point. It's called developing a story people. If a movie builds up a story and characters you'll say its dull, if it jumps right in you'll say it lacked suspense, there is no way to win. All I know is I was in no way shape or form bored at any time. One this I hate about gnarly horror movies is when the director thinks just because he is doing some gruesome stuff on screen, the movie can't look good. Hostel threw that out the window, cinema photography, lighting, all the visuals were simply stunning and made the film so easy to watch. In other words no shaky cam crap. Hostel is one of the best horror movies to come out since Cabin Fever, its raw, gutty, original, blood soaked, and just plain old good horror. If you are a fan at all of the genre you have to check this one out.

It is incredibly rare when a sequel comes out that is just as good as the original, but somehow Roth managed to pull it off. Hostel 2 managed to remain raw and original like its predecessor without being identical. So the plot takes place where the last one left off, with the club cleaning up its tracks. And then we are introduced to a new set of youngins ripe for the picking. This time a young group of girls taking a vacation, when they decide to stay at a hostel (Aren't you shocked) they find out they have been set up and put into a club that allows people to kill other people for money, and they are at the top of the bidding block. While it might sound a lot like the original, the way it plays out is completely different from top to bottom. Mainly in characters, the original was focused more on the premise, the idea of killing people for money, while the sequel is more focused on the characters. One of my favorite aspects of these movies are the twists and turns that you get, from the beginning of the movie you think you have it pegged and that you know exactly what is going to happen, and then it goes and does the complete opposite. That's not something you find much of in the industry anymore. Acting, we get a slew of good actors here. Lauren German plays the female heroine, she managed to put on a believable show without coming off too obnoxious. Heather Matarazzaro and Bijou Philips play the tag along expendable friends. While Philips was enjoyable to watch, Matarazzaro was nothing but an annoying cry baby, I swear I was counting down the moments to her demise. One scene stealer that we get is Roger Bart, who plays one of the men set out to kill one of the girls. His character brought quite a few surprises and Bart was right along for the ride, I found him to be quite entertaining in a really creepy guy wants to kill me kinda way. Gore, something you can always count on in a good torture sub genre movie and let me tell you, this one delivers in the red stuff. We get a nose being ripped off, some bloody stabbings, a penis being torn off (yeah I said it), a wicked saw in the head, and so much more. If you are anything like me then you are a gore hound, and this one will quench your thirst. While Hostel 2 successfully broke away from the original in many ways, one way it was similar was in the cinema photography. The visuals in this are simply stunning, very clean and very perfect. I don't care what anyone says having a visually good looking movie does not take away from the atmosphere. Its hard reviewing a movie when there is so much that you can give away, there are so many twists that it would be very easy to ruin a movie for you, so I'll just be straight forward, Hostel 2 is similar to the original when it needs to be, and it is different from the original when it needs to be. It delivers in every way and if you are a true Roth or horror fan you will be in for a major treat, check it out.