by Thomas Ferguson

It’s official, Hell has frozen over! Eli Roth’s Hostel was a surprise hit back in early 2006. I was shocked. That movie was the most repulsive, poorly conceived mess I’d seen in years. Let’s just say, my expectations for its sequel was very low. I hate to admit, but it’s not that bad.

In the original, three sex starved guys find themselves backpacking through Europe looking for women, alcohol, and drugs. They are re-directed to a Slovakian city known for all three. Before long, they find themselves in captivity. They are taken from their hostel (which is the European name for a cheap hotel set up mostly for traveling youth) and brought to a secluded location to be tortured and murdered by the highest bidder. A secret society of filthy rich maniacs pays high dollars to carry out their sick fantasies of killing humans.

In part two, the three adventurers are women, looking for a peaceful place to relax on summer break. Beth (Lauren German), Whitney (Bijou Phillips), and Lorna (Heather Mattarazzo) are directed to the same fate by fellow student Axelle (Vera Jordanova).

Also on vacation, two best friends Todd and Stuart (Desperate Housewives alum Richard Burgi and Roger Bart), want to relax in another way. They have paid to torture the young students, but upon their arrival, Stuart gets cold feet. Todd must convince his friend that the society they have just paid into will not take no for an answer. They have both signed a contract that requires a death, whether the abducted or their own.

Like I said earlier, I really had no desire to see this movie. With horror sequels, the violence and gore are usually amped up. I barely got through the original; I knew I would get a double dose here. Now, don’t me wrong, there is plenty of gore, but it’s not as intense and over the top like its predecessor. I love horror movies and I normally don’t mind its gore, but the acts of torture on screen bothers me. I especially hate seeing it directed towards women or children, but this movie kept from overly exploiting the situation. Roth wrote a script that was fun, well structured, and intense. That being said, there were a couple of scenes that rubbed me the wrong way, but the rest of the movie made up for those disturbing images.

Let me take a moment to talk about the crazy ending. I don’t want to give anything away, but it will have every guy squirming in their seat. It was hard to look at, but as a viewer who had followed these characters through their sadistic journey; it was a more than satisfying conclusion. This movie is definitely not for the squeamish, but a fun roller coaster ride nonetheless. I still can’t believe I liked this movie!