HOSTEL PART 2
US, 2007, 93 minutes, Colour.
Lauren German, Roger Bart, Heather Matarazzo, Bijou Phillips, Richard Burgi, Vera Jordanova, Jay Hernandez, Jordan Ladd, Edwige Fenech.
Directed by Eli Roth.
The original film, Hostel, received condemnations for its torture sequences but was popular at the box-office. The Slovakian government was not too pleased that such a killing factory should be set in their country. However, here we are again.
The recent increase in what some commentators have termed ‘torture porn’ has brought such films as Paradise Lost (Turistas) and, the worst, Captivity, which had no redeeming features. In fact, compared with Captivity, Hostel 2 does not seem so bad at all. It is the plot of the first film re-run except that this time the victims are women (which somehow makes their humiliation and torture more degrading). Compared with the raunchy men in Hostel, these women are very restrained (mainly after some drugs). So, is the first half of the film. It has a gory nightmare and a rather brief glimpse of a ludicrous decapitated body but that is all. The torture is in the second half.
Eli Roth is a good craftsman and he establishes his characters and moods effectively. Since we know what is going to happen, he can spend more time establishing the situations and characters. After the abductions begin and the torture, there are three graphic and ugly scenes, not nearly as much as in the first film. It’s just that they seem so ugly: a literal bloodbath, a chainsaw and a castration. Patrons can choose whether this is what they want to experience – and wish that Eli Roth would turn his talent to more positive themes.
There are some unexpected psychological twists at the end which work – but, then, some would say that the film was already twisted in the first place.
1.The impact of the first Hostel film? The criticism of its sadism, torture, violence? The tone? Expectations of a sequel?
2.Hostel 2 and the rerun of the basic plot, the changing of men victims to women victims? The effect of this? The brutality towards men? The sadistic treatment of women? The comparative brevity of the torture scenes compared with the first film? Their impact? The finale and Beth’s treatment of Stuart?
3.The opening in Rome, the art class, the hotels, the trains? The transition to Slovakia, the hostel, the factory? The background of the celebration? The sinister aspect of the children? The hostel staff? The musical score – and the classical tone, belying the brutality? The wealthy mansion, the river – and the contrast of the beauty with the ugliness?
4.The three women, Americans, their attitude, the art class and the demonstrations, the arts class professor? Axelle and her taking to Beth? Following her, the discussion about the drawing?
5.The train ride, Lorna and her fussiness, wanting to go home? Whitney and her bravado? Beth and her serious-mindedness, the background of her inordinate wealth? On the train – Axelle on the train? The encounter with the young men, wanting the drugs, their fright?
6.The decision to go to Slovakia, Axelle’s influence? Booking in at the hostel? The sinister man at the desk? Their going out, the carnival atmosphere, the various encounters, the dancing, the music? Whitney and her sexual relationships? Beth and her supervising? Lorna and her naivety, stubbornness, going off with the fat man, despite Beth’s warnings? Beth and her encounter with Stuart?
7.The desk clerk, the photo of Beth, going out on the internet? The ugliness of the international bidders? Whitney and Beth for sale? The bids? Todd and his getting the final bid – on the golf course? Stuart at home, the alienation from family? His travelling immediately, with Todd? Todd and his callous attitudes, wanting to kill someone? Talk about heroism, macho attitudes? Stuart not entirely persuaded? Stuart and his meeting with Beth, knowing who she was?
8.The abduction of Lorna, the torture, hanging upside down, the woman in the bath? The literal bloodbath? Audience response to this sadism?
9.Whitney, her abduction, being tied up, Todd and the chainsaw, the accident? His change of heart? His not fulfilling his contract? His being killed? Whitney and the other bids, her death?
10.The other torture, the men, the sadistic professor, carving the flesh, eating?
11.Beth, her abduction, her previous escape, the children pursuing her, the rescue by Axelle and the owner? The rebuke of the children? The children themselves, their violence – and their having spat on Lorna? Beth in the security of the home, its beauty, wealth?
12.Beth and Stuart, the discussions? Her trying to persuade him to free her? His change of attitude, his violence, enjoying the sadism? Beth and her turning the tables on him? The authorities, their watching the screens, the authorities coming down, the woman and the contract? Beth and her tying up Stuart – and the violence of the castration?
13.Beth, her money, making a bid for her life? The irony of her change of character? With the children? The owner – and his shooting the child? The ruthlessness?
14.Beth, at the fair, eyeing up potential victims?
15.The overall effect of this kind of film? The description of torture porn?
