 'Hostel'
(Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Eythor Gudjonsson, Barbara Nedeljakova, Jana Kaderabkova, et al / R / 75 mins / LGF)
Overview: College buddies Paxton and Josh backpack through Europe with their friend Oli, an Icelandic friend they met along the way. He leads the two Americans to a Slovakian town that's rumored to have a hostel stocked with beautiful Eastern European women. Surprisingly, this turns out to be true, and Paxton and Josh are soon hooking up with Natalya and Svetlana. However, things take a darker turn when they discover the cheap, babe-filled lodge holds a terrifying secret.
Verdict: With a style as high as its body count, 'Hostel' may become something of a classic ... or, the squeamish might simply stay away and the film will never get the recognition that it deserves! Sure, carnage queens will appreciate some of Roth's less grisly, even amusing details, but what makes 'Hostel' both cathartic and unnerving is its presentation of characters being brought into a virtual slaughterhouse for our sadistic viewing pleasure. In short, 'Hostel' is highly en-gross-ing!
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