Dorkgasm Gonzo Is God

Goooaaalll!
By
J. Sternberg

            I've had arguments with more than one friend of mine as to what Eli Roth's masterpiece has been so far. I've always thought that the original Hostel is a work of art. A film that challenges the boundaries of what is acceptable as far as sexuality and violence in cinema. Cabin Fever on the other hand, while also exceptional, doesn't work so hard to challenge your perceptions, but works on a camp value and has a gore level that's second to none. The merit of both films is far from questioning, but when it comes down to what will inevitably be the timeline of Roth, where will Hostel: Part II land?

            Hostel: Part II promised to be more killer-oriented than the first, and it failed to do that, in my opinion. Roth and company do delve into the lives of two of the Elite Hunting Club's newest members, but the actual depth is what should fall into question. On that note however, the film itself is not a failure. The performances are solid, the cinematography and special effects are up to par, and the writing is right were it needs to be. The ultimate shortcoming of the film is in its inability to shock the audience the way its predecessor did. You can call it a sophomore slump, and I won't blame you, hell I'll even agree with you.

Click image to visit the site

            I'm a huge fan of films where the second attempt trumps the first in a big way, (Back to the Future 2, Spider-Man 2, Terminator 2, TMNT 2, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK) and I can't fault others for only coming close. Typically, in the case of other sophomore triumphs, the sequels work in a way the originals don't. They offer something completely new. While Hostel: Part II does not, it is still a solid, sexy and splatter filled fun-fest.

            Three sorority sisters go to Europe and end up in a murder maze established by the rich and evil Elite Hunting Club, and end up dying off. There's the plot, along the way there's the back story of a douchebag and a complete pussy who have joined the murdering society, and somewhere along the way, one total bitch gets decapitated and fun ensues before the credits roll.

            I could spoil everything, but I won't, let me just say this is worth the couple bucks you can spend on a used copy of the film. I particularly enjoyed the Countess Elizabeth Bathory scene, and the last 20 minutes I found particularly cheer worthy. While Roth's previous films may be better, Hostel: Part II does its job cementing Roth's place in the future of American horror.
            I give Hostel: Part II 2.5 "GOOOAAALLL!!!"s out of 5