Product Description

Presented by Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Vol. 1 & 2) and directed by Eli Roth (Cabin Fever), Hostel is a shocking and relentless film in the tradition of Saw about two American backpackers (Jay Hernandez, Friday Night Lights and Derek Richardson, Dumb and Dumberer) in Europe who find themselves lured in as victims of a murder-for-profit business.

Paxton and Josh, two college friends, are lured by a fellow traveler to what's described as a nirvana for American backpackers – a particular hostel in an out-of-the-way Slovakian town stocked with Eastern European women as desperate as they are gorgeous. The two friends arrive and soon easily pair off with exotic beauties Natalya and Svetlana. In fact, too easily...

Initially distracted by the good time they're having, the two Americans quickly find themselves trapped in an increasingly sinister situation that they will discover is as wide and as deep as the darkest, sickest recess of human nature itself – if they survive.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23683 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-04-18
• Format: NTSC
• Running time: 94 minutes

Customer Reviews

Hostel is an Eye-Popping Gore-Fest!
Three college students (Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson and Eythor Gudjonsson) decide to backpack across Europe. They have no idea what lies in wait. When they meet an older man on the train, they're told about a village where women will do anything to satisfy a man--especially Americans. Checking into a hostel in Slovakia, the three men discover that their room comes with a few perks. Three gorgeous women. And this of course leads to one thing.

Most of the first half of the film is filled with the gratuitous sexual encounters so prevalent in today's horror movies; however, since it's actually a key part of the story line, I guess they had to do it. (No pun intended.) The women are bait. And once the men are lured in, they're drugged and find themselves in a terrifying predicament.

As a longtime fan of horror movies, I felt there was extreme shock value in the gross chopping, drilling and slicing of human flesh. It made me cringe and turn away at times, and I have a strong stomach. It isn't a psychological thriller or ghostly horror, so much as a movie that tests your limits on what you can visually handle seeing.

The final explanation of what's actually going on is perhaps what sets this film apart from other random slasher films. In fact, it's the 'hunt club' aspect that makes the story line more believable and even, dare I say, feasible. Yet instead of hunting down victims, wealthy men can torture, maim or murder in order to satisfy their sadistic needs. And as a subtle humorous dig, it's the Americans who are most prized. For what better way to get back at the US than to torture and kill future generations? The shocking violence of the group of children that appears occasionally also sends a strong message. If you travel to a foreign country, it's a good thing to carry gum and candy!

At least the acting in Hostel was a far cry from the poor readings of the actors in the movie Saw--a movie that made me groan and sigh, wishing I could have written their dialogue and had my neighbors act it out.

Unlike many of today's horror films, Hostel does leave you with a vaguely fulfilling ending. Of course, you'll just have to see it now to find out what that is. This is the perfect dieter's movie too, by the way. You won't be too hungry or thirsty while you're watching it. This movie is definitely for 18+!!! If you enjoy a movie that makes you gasp, cringe or has your stomach churning, this is it. If you can't handle blood and excessive gore and brutality, I'd recommend you watch a comedy instead. Now...where did I put my saw?

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, [...]

Never thought torture could be so fun
Thanks to the rise of Asia Extreme horror, American horror seems to be stepping away from the teenie bopper-slasher crap of recent years. Hostel is one of the best American horror movies I've seen in years. Full of never-shattering torture scenes, tense moments and even humor, this surpasses Eli Roth's Cabin Fever by far. Not since watching Takashi Miike's Audition have I felt like turning away from a scene at what I was watching. although I loved it, the happy ending was a little disappointing, until I found out there will be a squel. Now coming out on DVD as Unrated I can only imagine what new horrors will be added to it. Now, if you like your horror to be the Jasons, Freddy's or Final Destinations...this is not the movie for you. If you are a fan of Saw, Ichi the Killer, Oldboy or the Devil's Rejects...this is a movie for you.

Saw with a Sense of Humor
I'll keep this short, I liked Hostel for the reasons I didn't like any of the 3 Saw films; it doesn't take itself too seriously, which I think makes it more effective. Horror movies need a few laughs between the scares, it keeps you on your toes and unprepared for what's to come. Good flick!