But maybe there was hope in that silver lining up ahead. Surely the rain must cease and the clouds part, and the sun shine right? One day perhaps. Little to my knowledge, that day was soon upon us. Starting with Saw II. Which I loved. But right before they show a trailer for a movie that quite intrigued lil ole' me. A place where everything has a price, and the only limits are the flow of your cash. Where for an unmentioned amount of money you could strap someone to a sadists chair and torture the living crap out them. In fact, you can torture the life out of them too while you're at it. And then the name Eli Roth appeared. And my groan was audible enough for the person 5 rows back to whisper the theatre toned "SSSSSSSSH!"
I almost didn't see this movie. I was at the box office ready to see Bloodrayne the day this came out. Not expecting Touch of Evil, or Citizen Kane while I waited in line for that movie, but I do like the video games it was based on. But for some reason I pressed the automated ticket machine for Hostel. As if my subconscience was telling me, "You're an asshole if you plunk down almost 10 whole bucks for Bloodrayne. I will never speak to you again if you do that!" So I went to Hostel. And in the end, I was glad I did.
At it's beginning the movie takes its time to draw you into the environment. Unlike the trend these days there is no big flashy death opening. There is some question as to what the hell we're getting ourselves into, but when the three main characters are introduced we spend enough time with them to really invest in their well being, and begin to see bits of ourselves in them. Jay Hernandez and Derek Richardson play Paxton and Josh. Two men that are the audiences door into this world. Two college guys out on a trip around Europe before they start the long and difficult journey of post college education. And of all the places in the world for this movie to open in, it's Amsterdam. Known mainly for the drugs and women that are available on just about every corner. At least, that's the fantasy we should be buying into. Cuz when you take a step back and look around, there's a million other American guys there for the exact same reason. Soon we get the feeling that Amsterdam is quickly becoming the Starbucks of Europe. Sure there are still a bunch of pretty women all over the place, but Josh is more of the mind that his money would be better off saved, than tossed to the wind for one night of pleasure. So, in a fit of testosteronic angst, they take the advice of a herpes ridden little shit to head to a town smack in the middle of Slavacia. So war torn, and so depraved of anyone that all the hot bitches there are just waiting for some good ole' American peni. So......what else is a guy to do? They pack and head to paradise on earth.
From here we're almost more than half over with the movie. And nothing at this point really jumps out as bizarre. There are beautiful women as the herp-man claims. And true to form, they will get naked for us and show us their vittles. And there are plenty of vittles to go around. And the camera will focus on them, again and again and again. All the while, (Not complaining mind you) you begin to wonder if maybe whether or not we're going to find something scary in this "scary" movie. Sure enough things begin to get odd. One friend disappears, strange occurences begin to take place, and the next thing you know you're stuck in a dirty room tied to a metal chair with a guy drilling a hole in your leg.
That's how f'ed up this movie gets. It takes you from the highest high, and you very quickly plummit to the depths of hell. And let me tell you, it's a fucked up journey.
By no means is this the goriest film I've ever seen. Dear Lord, far from it. What it is though is tense enough to have you in your seat. Because of the investment you've made in the characters, you care for their fate in the hands of these psychos. You hope they escape, and you have no idea how they're going to achieve such a feat. The torture and violence scenes make up a very small portion of this movie. But it's the human nature behind it, the reality that these actors portray in the terriblness surrounding them that make this a good movie.
The most screwed part however, the reason why this movie stuck in my brain all the way home, and the reason why I whole heartidly recommend this movie is the scene between Jay Hernandez and Rick Hoffman. Paxton in his attempt to escape stumbles across a locker room with lockers full of nice clothing. Suits and ties. And in walk American Businessman Rick Hoffman. Dressed in the attire of a butcher/surgeon. And he starts asking Paxton how his experience was. And it's here you begin to realize that this whole thing, is a business. And the people in surgeon-butcher gowns are actually rich men paying for the oppurtunity to maim and kill. Rick Hoffman then begins talking about his experiences all over the world and how it's all the same. But this, THIS will be something special. And he starts asking if he should do it slow or quick. Get your moneys worth, ya' know? It don't get more depraved than that. He asks Paxton which one he got. Different races go for more money. Americans being worth $25,000. Paxton says, "American" and the guy starts calling him a big spender. And then it hits home. PEOPLE ARE PAYING TO TORTURE AND KILL OTHER PEOPLE!! And the people working in this personal hell hole, amongst chainsaw, blow torches, and surgeons scalpels are treating this like another boring day on the job. Fucking sick.
FINAL ANALYSIS!
This isn't the best looking movie on earth. There's no stylistic brilliance, there's no signature camera moves, actually the whole things plays very static. But the story more than makes up for it. It really is a sick story.
And the scary part is, what if this shit is real? I will never leave the country again if this shit goes down for real somewheres in the world. Holy God no!
This story, and concept bored into my head and drove me crazy all weekend. And that's a signature of a movie that is worth time and money. Eli Roth has matured a little as a film maker, but as a writer he's evolved leaps and bounds. First movie of the year, and it looks like we're off to a promising start.