There are horror movies, and then there’s Hostel.
During advance screenings, rumors circulated that the film, now out on DVD, caused some audience members to walk out (or, more accurately, run out) and even vomit. If this sounds appealing, then buy this movie.
A European backpacking adventure gone horribly wrong, Hostel is writer/director Eli Roth’s follow-up to the gorefest Cabin Fever and, while it lacks much of the comedic punch of that first effort, it is still one of the scarier American films in recent memory.
The unrated DVD edition includes a few extras — a few barely noticeable extra moments of gore and a trio of fairly extensive behind-the-scenes featurettes that, like most “Making Of” extra featurettes, are fun to watch — once. Judging by the sheer glee he seems to have on set, Roth genuinely loves the movie he’s making, and listening to one of the four commentary tracks he’s featured on, it’s clear he remains deeply in love with it.
Also spread out among the commentary tracks are Quentin Tarantino, Harry Knowles (the Buddha of internet film review), two of the film’s stars and several producers. Whether or not Hostel is worth watching four times for their insight into the artistic motifs of one of the film’s many torture scenes is questionable, but Roth is a cordial and lively presence on the commentary tracks, especially the fun, frantic one with Tarantino, which sounds like a horror film geek’s dream.
Surprisingly, Hostel is a much smarter, scarier, better-constructed movie than it appeared to be amid the initial hysteria in theatres. Repeat viewings might not keep scaring you, but they are helpful in catching the quick shots of gore you missed because you were cringing or watching the movie through your fingers. So, if you’re up for it, sit tight, get your vomit bags ready and give Hostel a shot.