I was a fan of the original Hostel. That movie, to me, was more than just torture porn. The graphic violence was used as a tool to create tension and fear and “holy crap, how will they get out of this” kind of moments for the audience. It wasn’t the greatest horror film of the decade or anything like that, but it worked for me.
I can’t say the same thing about the steaming pile of shit that was Hostel 2. Damn that movie sucked. The main problem was that torture violence went from being a tool to take us where the director wanted to go… to being the point in and of itself. It was just up on screen to gross us out and nothing more. As a result it was a hollow empty viewing experience that left me wishing I had just stayed home and not wasted my time.
Eli Roth was the man behind the camera for both of those films (you can see him acting in the upcoming Inglourious Basterds) and when asked about Hostel 3, he’s flat out stated he’s not going to be involved with it. Screen Crave gives us this:
“The studio had made a lot of money with it so they want to keep going, and the fans, there’s demand for it, and great. If I started something and other people want to continue it, go for it. I’m just not involved in anyway. There’s no negativity about it. I just said, ‘I put everything in my life for three years into these movies. I’ve said everything I have to say with it. I feel very lucky I got to make them and the fans responded the way they did, and if you guys want to continue it, great, go ahead.’”
There’s a demand for a Hostel 3??? Ummm… sure Eli… whatever.
So two things we know. 1) There is going to be a Hostel 3 and 2) It won’t have Eli Roth involved.
Are you interested in the Hostel fronchise anymore? Does Roth’s departure from the franchise increase or decrease your interest in seeing a new film?
As a side note… I can’t wait to see his full length version of “Thanksgiving”!
