Directed by: Eli Roth
Written by: Eli Roth
Produced by: Eli Roth, Chris Biggs and Mike Fleiss
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Eythor Gudjonsson, Barbara Nedeljakova, Jan Vlasak
Studio: Lions Gate Films

I admit it, I am a big fan of the Saw franchise. Although the second one wasn't as good as the excellent original, it still is fun and entertaining and manages to deliver some thrills. Hostel, presented by Quentin Tarantino, would seem to be the perfect movie to try to match Saw's greatness. Unfortunately it doesn't even come close. The plot revolves around two American friends who go backpacking through Europe. What they are really interested in though is women and drugs and the best place to find it is Slovakia. These naïve and ultimately stupid heroes wander there where they meet beautiful women and their dreams come true. Then all hell breaks loose.

The only problem? It takes one hour for the actual horror to kick in. Most of the first hour is entirely porn. "Euro Trip 2?" is what I kept asking myself during the movie. I continued to wonder if I was really watching a horror movie. It isn't until the last 30 minutes that the horror begins to kick in. The first hour in all honesty is completely pointless and absurd. It certainly earned its strong sexuality label here. The cast is young and inexperienced and truly not that good at all. The script is horrible early on, but kicks in at the end. The last 30 minutes is excellent horror, I may add. This period creates a feeling of disgust in the viewer's stomach and yes there is gore a plenty. These last 30 minutes at least gave me some of my money's worth and delivered what a horror movie should.

For those of you easily offended people, please skip Hostel. Please. It has very brutal violence and lots of sexuality as I already mentioned. I know what you're asking yourself. Is it more violent than Saw? Yes. All I can say is that this movie had lots of potential. I am completely willing to give a movie fit of the last 30 minute's magnitude an A-. The only problem is that the first hour isn't horror at all. It isn't scary. It isn't disturbing. It isn't gritty. It's porn. Did Eli Roth try to attract the audience through sex, I don't know. All I do know is that this first hour added absolutely nothing to the movie but instead took away from it. How unfortunate this is. Skip Hostel, unless you are a monster horror buff where you could just skip to the end.