tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post2574100332153617035..comments2023-11-05T03:24:07.273-06:00Comments on Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob.: Thoughts On Thrillers, Horror, and Torture Porn.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-29772380533707505382008-05-22T21:15:00.000-05:002008-05-22T21:15:00.000-05:00I might... *might*... give you 'clever director' f...I might... *might*... give you 'clever director' for Eli Roth. But clever writer? No way.<BR/><BR/>As for the sequel... I do give you that the character of Stuart was a good one... up until he basically said 'fuck it' and tortured them anyway. That lost every ounce of character development that had been building thus far and totally ruined it for me. To me, it was unrealistic for the character that had been shown thus far and was only done as an excuse to throw off the viewer.<BR/><BR/>And I don't gloss over the more subtle details. I know where you're coming from, and I don't just see the Hostel films as pure gore-fests. I know exactly what Eli Roth was attempting to do. I just think he failed at it. But that's my personal opinion.<BR/><BR/>And I'd have to see House of the Dead again before I could give you an opinion on its 'so-bad-its-good' factor.<BR/><BR/>I guess my biggest problem with Roth is more psychological. I saw Cabin Fever with one of my exes, and she never let me live down the awfulness of the movie (as it was my choice), burning the annoyance and hatred of Roth and his films forever into my membrane.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-89512878569336055672008-05-22T19:57:00.000-05:002008-05-22T19:57:00.000-05:00I only agree with you on one part, and that's with...I only agree with you on one part, and that's with the gore. The blowtorch scene, and the aftermath of which looked very fake. Aside from that, I thought the effects were very well done.<BR/><BR/>But honestly, Eli Roth is a very clever writer and director, and in the case of the characters, there's a part where Oli reveals he has a kid, and the others reaction to this later on tells a great deal about their naivity and how easily they'll trust someone without really knowing anything about them. There's considerably subtle character building going on throughout the film, and very often it's not spelled out for the audience.<BR/><BR/>As well as that, the characters of Todd and Stuart in the sequel are incredibly well written, more so than the protagonists of the film even. This is especially evident on repeat viewings, Stuart in particularly I felt is an incredibly real character, he appears very passive and timid on the outside, but a serious inner hatred is burning, bottled away, and we get glimpses of this as the film goes on before he reveales it to Beth.<BR/><BR/>Ok, it certainly isn't There Will Be Blood, but as a gore movie, I've found it has a remarkable amount of substance and subtletly compared to it's contemporaries. Hostel is just considerably above average for what it is.<BR/><BR/>Aside from that, I just found both films magnificently thrilling, like the scene where they're following the guy in the jacket, whom they mistake for their friend. It reminds me greatly of The Wicker Man, or Don't Look now, and captures an excellent atmosphere.<BR/><BR/>One of the scenes that struck me the most from the sequel was the bidding scene, that disturbed me somewhat, and it wasn't the big brash kind of disturbing with gore, it stirred me on a higher level, I think that's when we really get things put in perspective for us, it grounds the film and the circumstances with a lot of gravity.<BR/><BR/>Apologies for going on about it, but I guess I'm frustrated with the overwhelmingly negative opinions on the Hostel films, because it appears to me that most people have simply glossed over a lot of the finer details and subtlety that are present. It's double frustrating because I don't particularly love the films either, but I end up not being able to help myself ranting about them.<BR/><BR/>Honestly though, I don't think it's fair to compare Eli Roth with Uwe Boll at all. It's true, I do enjoy Uwe Boll's movies, but solely on the "So-bad-it's-good" level, you can't argue with how unintentionally funny House of the Dead is, but the man clearly has no grasp of subtlety, tension, or pacing, all of which I find Roth has a keen grasp on.Karl Hungushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402005407998764370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-10541918362077548532008-05-21T21:19:00.000-05:002008-05-21T21:19:00.000-05:00Eli Roth sucks. I'm sorry, but he does. And the on...Eli Roth sucks. I'm sorry, but he does. And the only interesting part of the first Hostel was when the main guy and that girl were trying to escape the warehouse.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, both movies were incredibly boring, not tense whatsoever, and the gore looked beyond fake, taking me out of the moment. Not to mention the lack of any real story, character development, or good acting. The idea behind it (human trafficking) was good, but they're awful attempts.<BR/><BR/>For me, Eli Roth is up there with Uwe Boll on the 'horrid filmmakers' list. But then again, you are a Uwe Boll fan... so that kind of explains it :PNickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-31066839356083042072008-05-21T19:17:00.000-05:002008-05-21T19:17:00.000-05:00Hmm, I'll have to disagree with you on two counts ...Hmm, I'll have to disagree with you on two counts there.<BR/><BR/>First of all, at the exclusion of ghost stories (sorry, 'Supernatural thrillers') or anything where there's a human killer, you don't exactly offer up what you think constitutes a horror? Just a little constructive criticism there, I think when you're making such a statement, it could give a lot more grounding for you to inform us about what you believe makes a horror. <BR/><BR/>Secondly, Eli Roth isn't that bad, really. I found both the Hostel films remarkably tense, and it takes a director with some degree of skill to pull off that kind of tension. I'll probably write reviews of the Hostel films at some stage and articulate my thoughts on them further.Karl Hungushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402005407998764370noreply@blogger.com