Although he damn near slanders an entire country - - expect poor Slovakia’s tourism industry to take a hit - - Roth is not an unskilled ringleader of gory crisis moments, or breathless escapes.
Hostel (2006)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:97
Fresh:57
Rotten:40
Average Rating:5.8/10
Consensus: Featuring lots of guts and gore, Hostel is a wildly entertaining corpse-filled journey -- assuming one is entertained by corpses, guts, and gore, that is.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for brutal scenes of torture and violence, strong sexual content, language and drug use.
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release:Jan 6, 2006 Wide
Box Office: $47,277,326
Synopsis: The hallowed tradition of the post-college European backpacking trip turns into an unimaginable nightmare for two unsuspecting American 20-somethings in Eli Roth's (CABIN FEVER) sensational second... The hallowed tradition of the post-college European backpacking trip turns into an unimaginable nightmare for two unsuspecting American 20-somethings in Eli Roth's (CABIN FEVER) sensational second outing. Paxton (Jay Hernandez) and Josh (Derek Richardson) have embarked upon a hedonistic tour of the continent, and somewhere along the way they picked up an Icelandic lunk named Oli (Eythor Gudjonsson). In Amsterdam the trio partakes of the pastimes most dear to frat boys everywhere: weed, prostitutes, and nightclubs. But when a fellow traveler tells these thrill-seekers about the decadent scene that awaits them in Bratislava, they find themselves unable to resist its lures; enticed by the promise of a hostel full of beautiful girls who love Americans, they set out for the remote areas of Eastern Europe. There, the sex farce to which the film's first half is devoted slowly turns ominous, as the boys hook up immediately with the gorgeous Natalya (Barbara Nedeljakova) and Svetlana (Jana Kaderabkova), whose eagerness masks more sinister intentions. Soon, the disagreeable backpackers find themselves on the other side of the flesh trade, sold by the girls into an exclusive human trafficking operation that gives its customers the opportunity to torture and kill a helpless victim. Much of what follows consists of the squirm-inducing surgical horrors that characterize precursors such as SAW, with the implications regarding the capitalist system and the human soul becoming ever darker. Produced by Quentin Tarantino, the film amps up the gore factor as much as it can get away with, and, in the tradition of the best horror films, offers a satirical socially conscious commentary. [More]
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Lenka Vlasakova, Shane Daly
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Lenka Vlasakova, Shane Daly, Jan Vlasak, Eythor Gudjonsson
Director: Eli Roth
Director: Eli Roth
Composer: Nathan Barr
Studio: Lions Gate Films
Get This Movie
Reviews for Hostel
Silly, bloody nonsense that should appeal to hormonally challenged teens.
While there are some cheap thrills to be had here, much of the movie is profoundly boring.
Portrayed the way Transylvania was in a 1930s vampire film, with lascivious beauties intent on seducing and drugging their unwitting American dates so they can be fed into the machinery of recreational death.
Intimations of Abu Ghraib and allusions to 'The Wicker Man' suggest Roth's intentions are honorable... The film isn't escapist; like 'Straw Dogs,' it demands that viewers respond to its violence.
Let's hope 2006's first horror film isn't an indication of where the genre is going this year.
Roth proves unable to control the tone of his premise, in the end pandering too much to the male adolescent audience that he at first seems to be satirising.
One of the characters stumbles into a chamber of horrors where the rich pay to live out their sickest fantasies of violence. Ho, hum.
Quienes busquen lo más parecido a una pesadilla a cambio del precio de una entrada, saldrán bastante satisfechos.
I may not get the DVD for the sake of the film, but rather to show my kids and dissuade them from ever backpacking across Europe.
It's posed itself as a piece owing a debt to the Japanese shock cinema of Takashi Miike when it really owes more to the gore/schlock cinema of Herschel Gordon Lewis.
Controversial for its unnecessary, unjustified exploitation of gore, Roth’s film implicates the audience in its perversity.
The PR hype machine loves Eli Roth, and I'm sure he loves it right back.
...nothing but a reined in gorefest for aficionados of torture,, and even they won't be happy until the director's cut DVD is issued.
There isn't really much suspense or scariness in this film, but it is seriously nightmarish
Is there a point? No. Will you like it? Perhaps, but if you do... you should see someone about that.
A steady, grueling, suspenseful march to a raucous finish that is likely to give it a devoted cult following.
Latest News for Hostel
June 30, 2008:
A Writer/Director for Hostel III? ![]()
It looks like Scott Spiegel will be taking over for Eli Roth where Hostel III is concerned -- and it also looks like the sequel will be heading straight to video. More...
June 24, 2008:
Eli Roth Won't Write, Direct Hostel III ![]()
Looks like a third Hostel movie is officially on the way -- and it'll arrive without Eli Roth writing or directing. More...
April 24, 2008:
Eli Roth Going "Big-Budget, PG-13" ![]()
For his next film, Hostel director Eli Roth is trading in horror for a sci-fi action project said to be inspired by Cloverfield and Transformers. More...
January 22, 2008:
I Know Who Killed Me, Norbit, Daddy Day Camp Lead Razzie Noms
No awards season -- even a strike-tainted one -- would be complete without the Razzies, right? Of course not. And that's why we've thoughtfully assembled all of this year's... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



