‘Hostel’ grotesque, but not much else
There is a reason why horror movies don’t get nominated or win awards: Just see “Hostel” to find out.
While it is a fresh idea and brutally grotesque, its predictability and reliance on shock value bring it down.
The name “Hostel” itself tells viewers it is set in Europe and about backpacking college kids who end up in the totally wrong place.
“Hostel” stars Jay Hernandez (“Crazy/Beautiful,” “Friday Night Lights”) as part of a trio of friends looking for European women.
Sick of running into American tourists, they seek the wisdom of a local who tells them of a place in Slovakia free of tourists and full of beautiful women.
Upon arriving the trio have a great time, but one by one they start to mysteriously disappear.
Mayhem ensues and one can only imagine what happens from there.
Spoiler Alert: The best part of the movie is when Hernandez goes to save one girl and finds her with one of her eyes dangling out of her socket and he has to cut it off.
Director Eli Roth (“Cabin Fever”) does a good job with the cinematography and the overall look of the film.
But what it lacks is a quality story and acting. For instance, Hernandez barely flinches when forced to snip a person’s eye off.
The ending is even more absurd as Roth puts an otherwise abnormal happy ending on a horror movie — a strange and depraved way to end such a film.
The basis of the story is all right since hundreds of Americans go backpacking through Europe every summer and do stay in hostels.
Still, it lacks the energy needed for a quality, Oscar-worthy film.
Maybe if Quentin Tarantino took part in the directing and not just put up the money to get it released, it would’ve been a better movie.
Horror fans will love “Hostel” but there will be better horror movies this year to wait for.
