So why all the hate for Hostel?

[noctuary]

Once again, I'll explain the reason that I hated it so much. In order for a movie (especially a horror movie, it can be argued) to make a personal connection with the audience, we must be able to empathize with the characters. This was impossible with the repellent Ugly American stereotypes Hostel presented us with. Before the halfway point, I wanted all of those fuckers to die. If this was actually Roth's intention, I'd say he pulled it off admirably. Somehow though, I don't think it was.

[alkytrio666]

Originally Posted by noctuary

Once again, I'll explain the reason that I hated it so much. In order for a movie (especially a horror movie, it can be argued) to make a personal connection with the audience, we must be able to empathize with the characters. This was impossible with the repellent Ugly American stereotypes Hostel presented us with. Before the halfway point, I wanted all of those fuckers to die. If this was actually Roth's intention, I'd say he pulled it off admirably. Somehow though, I don't think it was.

Bingo.


I hated Hostel. Not only did it fail miserably to deliver the goods it promised, it failed to bring any recognizable emotion forward in me. I, like noc said, hated the main characters. Let them die, I don't give a shit! To be honest, **SPOILER** when the kid got his revenge at the end I was sorely dissapointed. **UNSPOILER**

I cared about the independent women, the loving wives and caring mothers, in The Descent. I was horrified to see two nieve and innocent young girls tortured, raped, and killed in Last House on the Left. I was devistated to see a woman who was finally getting control of her life, her love, and herself get mutilated in Psycho.

But when I saw two perverted, careless, dumb teenagers fall into the trap of a group of sickos, I simply laughed.

I laughed.

[newb]

I liked it. Started as a frat boy party movie and then took a nasty turn. Boobs & blood...nothing wrong with that.

[X¤MurderDoll¤X]

All I have to say is that the torture was supposed to be on-screen.

[Elvis_Christ]

Originally Posted by X¤MurderDoll¤X

All I have to say is that the torture was supposed to be on-screen.

The Guinea Pig eyeball homage was cool. After how annoying the characters were to the audience (well over here anyways) they deserved the satisfaction of them having no escape :D

But I enjoyed the jock rich kid saving the day a$$hole ruintune anyways and it saved the flick.

But the motherfucker must have the money (go indie?) in his pocket to make the splatterfest he talks about in his interviews or else we're gonna see the clever teaser poster for the next flick and be whatever n' cheat the kids again (turd strike).

Maybe he'll do the graticious shit when he flops kinda deal and do his best work but fuck I'd rather see a Fulci rip than a Sean S. Cunningham one.

I do see talent in the dude anyways compared to a lot of directors that just do the horror thing right off because they think no one takes it seriously and can cut corners (not denying Roth has but definatley in a different way).

One of his flicks should be as dope as Blood and Lace at least or a few of the offbeat AIP flicks of the 70s.

[slayer666]

It was not scary, and the characters did not elicit sympathy. Because of these two flaws (not that there weren't plenty of others), I found it incredibly boring.

[Vodstok]

I understood the "Ugly American" theme in it, but it really didnt do it for me. The beginning was frustrating, and it turned out to be another "you can only be in danger if you are this stupid"... Basically why i dont care for a lot of other horror movies...

I prefer movies where the main characters stumble upon the horror, not through being stupid, but because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. The Hills Have eyes, Wrong turn, Alien, George Rmoero's Dead movies, Se7en, so on... the characters are thrust into horrific situations because they are either unlucky, or they were lied to.

In Hostel, the victims were just dumb. To me, its not horror if you think the characters got what was coming to them.

[Burning in Hell]

Originally Posted by noctuary

Once again, I'll explain the reason that I hated it so much. In order for a movie (especially a horror movie, it can be argued) to make a personal connection with the audience, we must be able to empathize with the characters. This was impossible with the repellent Ugly American stereotypes Hostel presented us with. Before the halfway point, I wanted all of those fuckers to die. If this was actually Roth's intention, I'd say he pulled it off admirably. Somehow though, I don't think it was.

You see, to me it was exactly what Roth was aiming for, and in that aspect he succeeded very well. Sure, the boys are rude, obnoxious and impossible to root for, but that is how many people abroad are picturing americans in general, whether that reputation is deserved or not. Perhaps some people in the US have problems understanding how bad the reputation of american tourists is abroad, but its really there, so for me the way the boys acted and the europeans reacted was dead on accurate. Hell, even in Canada, which is probably the country that is closest to the US, most people are not overly fond on Americans. And I know some people working in the Hotel industry in Montréal that cringe when you mention american tourists.

So to me, Hostel was a big metaphor on how the world sees the US : as a society where debauchery runs rampant (hence the T&A scenes) and where people think they are the center of the world and should be put in their place. Remember when the businessman says in the dressing room that people pay more to torture americans? I can garantee you that if such things exist, it probably truly is the case...

[Kreech]

What I remember best about Hostel is a guy strapped to a chair vomiting with fear. I thought that was pretty neat.

Other than that part, I don't think I really want to watch this again.

[noctuary]

Originally Posted by Burning in Hell

Perhaps some people in the US have problems understanding how bad the reputation of american tourists is abroad, but its really there, so for me the way the boys acted and the europeans reacted was dead on accurate.

I understand it very well, but that doesn't mean that I support that portrayal.