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Quentin Tarantino Presents : Hostel Part II - Unseen Edition [2007]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £1.49 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The inevitable sequel to one of the decade’s most intriguing and well-made horror films, Hostel Part II, as the title implies, picks up pretty much where the last film left off. And it doesn’t take too long for the sequel to find the same groove that earned its predecessor so much attention.

The setting is once again an underground club, where people bid for the right to torture residents at the hostel of the title. Hostel Part II, however, lets us see events from the other perspective too, as we meet the wealthy businessmen who are availing themselves of the club’s services. It’s a logical dynamic for the movie, and it does bring a fresh perspective to a film that does eventually settle down to a cavalcade of gore and shock.

As a director, Eli Roth has clearly improved since last time around, even if this time he too often succumbs to the temptation to show rather than imply, and Hostel Part II as a result feels a little less fresh and more uncomfortable than its predecessor. Yet it’s most certainly an unsettling piece of cinema, and one likely to find favour with Roth’s increasing fanbase.

A word of warning, though. Hostel Part II isn’t shy about pulling its punches, and it very much justifies its 18 certificate. It’s also a cut above many of its modern day contemporaries in the genre, even though it fails to measure up to part one. --Jon Foster


BETTER THAN PART 1
Review date: 2008-10-17 Rating: 8 out of 10

A true gorefest - in fact so violent it got banned here in Germany. Part 1 has a bit more suspense and a little more of the "not seen before-feeling", but gore fans will enjoy this one more. (Non-gore fans: AVOID!) And keep in mind: Hostel Part 1 created the genre "Torture Porn", so this is what you'll get!

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Reviews


Better than Hostel 1
Review date: 2008-10-02 Rating: 8 out of 10

Hostel 2 is much better than part 1. There is better story, better character development, better torture scenes and better back story of the rich people who kill the backpackers. Great film with great gore.

Disturbing
Review date: 2008-09-30 Rating: 6 out of 10

I regarded Hostel Part 1 as a decent film, even though I didn't regard it as the great masterpiece claimed by some. Another revewer rightly points out that the action was delayed for far too long by the unnecessary and unconvincing soft porn scenes in the first half of the film. Yet it was an interesting premise that left you thinking - what if there really are organisations that provide the mega-rich with an opportunity to kill people for pleasure? When one reads of the horrors committed by paedophile rings and sex traffickers the idea isn't so unlikely. The film had gaping plot holes - notably Hollywood's arrogant assumption that countries like Slovakia are backward nations where an entire village and police force would allow murder and torture on a large scale. Yet I would defend Hostel 1 from allegations of torture porn, since there was little or no overt sexual element to the gruesome deaths of the victims, who were for the most part male.

Hostel 2 runs with much the same story. Business in Slovakia is still booming. There is more of a slant on the mysterious organisation's structure and their clients. But the basic storyline is the same - unsuspecting youngsters lured to the hostel which supplies the organisation with victims. Except for one thing - the victims are girls this time, and they are lured there by a beautiful woman. Cue lesbian undertones, notably in the swimming pool scene about half way through the film.

For the most part, the gender reversal makes no difference. Except for one long scene, the infamous scene where one of the girls is suspended upside down over a candlelit bath, while a very attractive older woman cuts her with a scythe and bathes in her blood. The sheer expression of pleasure on the older woman's face (she masturbates while doing all this) suggest that she's the best actor in the film, unless of course she's actually enjoying it for real. It is this scene, shot in the style of a porno flick, that gives the title to this review. This scene is clearly intended to stimulate the male section of the audience (probably the majority) and while I know it's only a movie and not real and all that, I found this scene very disturbing. I remember back in the 80s that women's groups complained that slasher flicks like Friday 13th glamorised the killing of women and I never agreed - there's nothing very glamorous or sexy about Jason or Michael Myers or whoever, really, is there? But I would agree with anyone who accused this part of the film of exploitation or worse. This really is torture porn and I wish this scene had been left out or at least shortened. There is of course gore aplenty in other scenes too, but it's not sexualised as this scene is.

Those who are into the Tarantino/Roth style of film will probably have seen Hostel 2 by now anyway. But if you're still deciding whether to get it or not, I'd say that this isn't a bad film but the scene to which I've referred may leave a nasty taste and possibly cause offence.



A very polarising film
Review date: 2008-09-20 Rating: 6 out of 10

I found this one pretty much on a par with Hostel 1. Like other (maybe older!) reviewers I don't consider the level of gore to be as high as some seem to think. If you break it down there is actually an awful lot less than many other films of this nature and it does fit the message behind it. Yes, it's very unpleasant to watch in places but, personally, I would have found the hanging scene far more chilling had the torturer been the woman in the very early bidding scene rather than a wannabe-vampiric type. I like the fact that Eli Roth included the earlier woman, and put the female torturer in, but would have "preferred" it had it been a little less hammy. I found the last minute change of heart by both Todd and Stuart to be believable and didn't have a problem with Beth being able to buy her way out. Another reviewer said the syndicate missed the opportunity to torture her to get the money but Sasha possibly recognised that, actually, here was someone who had the balls to take control and had a certain amount of respect for that. Quite frankly if I'd been Beth with that amount of money I'd have done anything to get out. The only reviews I have a real problem with are those like Rose's who seems to have commented on all those reviews which are highly positive. What on earth were you doing watching something which clearly states that it's "this" sort of film? Did it get mistakenly muddled up with "When Harry met Sally" or something and you were waiting for the orgasm scene? It's a horror film. Either don't watch it at all or turn it off!

Pure sick horror, the best torture porn I've ever seen!
Review date: 2008-09-13 Rating: 8 out of 10

After watching Hostel Part 2 there was a sickening feeling in my stomach, people sell sex, drugs, why not lives?
As they say anything is possible today & this notion of some distant, country where money means more than the law is very apparant.
Anyway the story revolves around a group of female students backpacking in Slovakia, soon after they are captured & become prey for sick wealthy Europeans paying to kill them in any way they please.
Thats pretty much the movie in a nut shell.
Although I see most of Hostel Part 2 reviews are predominantly bad, I actually liked the film as I am a fan of Horror pictures & for me the new phenomenon of torture porn is scary as hell. I hear a lot of people particularly proper critics complaining about little character or plot development, hello! people this is a horror movie, if your stupid enough to think your going to get depth the nyou obviously haven't watche many horror films. The acting is mediocre the gore is off the scale.
Personally when I go into a horror film I wnat an adrenaline rush, I want to be scared, I honestly wouldn't be scared if I saw someone go up to another & slit their throat, in 30 seconds they'll be dead, all this torture porn & sadism is scary if your slowly having your flesh sliced off purely because some rich old guy's secret is that he's a cannibal is scary, we all want to die peacefully with dignity & having your neck slit is a whole lot more dignified than having someone getting their sick desires fulfilled in the form of your slow & painful demise.
It is in my opinion a film that can only be liked by someone who goes into it not expecting a masterpiece & also a die-hard horror fan.
So go & see Hostel Part 2 if either of those if you love your horror gruesome, you never know you might throw up your last meal (which is not a bad thing if your trying to lose weight!)

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Jay Hernandez
Roger Bart
Lauren German
Luc Merenda
Bijou Phillips

Creators:
Jay Hernandez (Primary Contributor)
Luc Merenda (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822547735
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-10-22
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 90 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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