Somebody had a put a stake in the heart of the torture porn movement, and who better than Eli Roth to do the honors?
The horror trend, currently on life support courtesy of the “Saw” franchise,” hit a massive speed bump with “Hostel: Part II,” an ugly yet slickly packaged production from the former horror wunderkind.
Roth, part of the alleged “Splat Pack” of young horror directors, still has no idea how to scare audiences.
He sure knows how to make their stomachs tie up in knots, and if that’s your definition of cinematic glory you’ll be in heaven watching his latest film.
The horror sequel opens by tying up a few loose ends – namely finding out the fate of the original film’s hero.
Suffice to say he won’t be featured prominently in any “Hostel Part III.”
We’re then introduced to a new trio of victims, or rather heroines, making their way through Slovakia.
Beth (Lauren German) is the rich, sensible one, while flirty Whitney (Bijou Phillips) is your typical horror film type -or trollop. And then there’s Lorna (Heather Matarazzo), a walking buzz kill who doesn’t drink or party.
And why is she traveling abroad again?
The trio are quickly targeted and trapped by the film’s baddies, and audiences will be hard pressed to root for any of them surviving.
The first “Hostel” had the shock of the new as well as a tense final act. Here, the shocks come at us pre-packaged and ready for consumption.
Ooh, look, Roth dares to kill a little boy – albeit off-screen. And if you thought Matarazzo suffered in “Welcome to the Dollhouse,” well, that was only the beginning.
The original also had a whiff of social commentary with Americans getting their comeuppance from a world which usually bows at the feet of the great “imperial” power.
There’s far less subtext here, and a storyline involving two American businessmen eager to torture their fellow citizens fades before it gets interesting.
“Hostel II” ends on an ugly twist, a nonsensical wrinkle affirming Roth’s talents don’t extend to penning believable characters or stories designed to scare, not repulse.
(Photo: Heather Matarazzo dangles in distress during the grossout horror film “Hostel Part II.”)
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Like most sequels it sucked.
I loved the first one though, simple,gritty and gutsy both literally and figuratively. Although I have misgivings about calling it torture porn I suppose that’s as good a name as any though. This sub-genre is mean’t to be disturbing and the scare comes not from a monster jumping out but from a gritty realism, both in the story and in the effects.
The remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and it’s prequel both excelled in those aspects.
Where Hostel II failed is in trying to get too elaborate.
I caught about two minutes of Hostel II on one of the premium movie channels a month or two ago. It might have even been the scene from which you got that photo. It was one of the most repugnant things I’ve ever seen. Not frightening. Just gratuitous and vile.
Can’t argue, Ben. I’m a pretty avid horror junkie, but there’s no purpose to that scene other than to upset and offend. Mission accomplished. Mr. Roth. Hope you’re proud.