Hostel II - going too far?

[Staurm]

I read recently that Eli Roth has made a sequel to Hostel, which is probably about the most disturbing and sickening film I have ever made the mistake of watching.

The article in this months Film magazine writes it is going to begin with 45 minutes of sex, and then its into the torture. Once again in true Tarantino style, Roth is pushing the boundaries of acceptibilty by portraying sickening scenes of outrageous violence and sadism. Scenes are to include the graphic dismemberment of a male by a female, and the torture of 3 girls.

Look, I'm not against violence in films, so long as its done with some style. But there are just too many sick fucks out there who get off on this kind of shit. I like a good thriller such as Halloween, or a classic horror movie like Elm Street, but this film is marking a trend started by Tarantino in the 90's with the Reservoir Dog's torture scene and it's highly irresponsible.

Stanley Kubrick, himself credited for portraying the darker side of violence but in a more eloquent/artistic way with the brilliant Clockwork Orange, realised the repercussions his film was having and later pulled it from British release for fear of his own life, following a spate of copy cat murders and death threats.

Television puts ideas in people minds, it influences society in many ways.

Staurm Reviewed by Staurm on 05-22-2007. Hostel II - going too far? I read recently that Eli Roth has made a sequel to Hostel, which is probably about the most disturbing and sickening film I have ever made the mistake of watching. The article in this months Film magazine writes it is going to begin with 45 minutes of sex, and then its into the torture. Once again in true Tarantino style, Roth is pushing the boundaries of acceptibilty by portraying sickening scenes of outrageous violence and sadism. Scenes are to include the graphic dismemberment of a male Rating: 5

[A Scanner Darkly]

There is no such thing as "too far." If something can be created by the human mind, then that same thing is not outside the realm of human thought, and nothing greater can be said about the human mind's ability to explore.

[Staurm]

Don't you guys think that film directors who release this kind of stuff have a responsibility to bear?

I'm not an advocate of censorship, but by the same token I am not in favour of the media broadcasting so much of this snuff on a large scale. I'm saying people shouldn't make these films, not that they shouldn't be allowed to make them.

There is a lot of evidence that TV/films influence people. On the negative side we have Moore's Bowling for Columbine thesis which linked the inordinately high levels of gun crime in the US to the amout of fear/propaganda broadcast by the media. There are further examples of films which have inspired copy-cat murders/attacks, A Clockwork Orange, Child's PLay 3, Rambo, Nightmare on Elm Street, and more.

With both of these influences in an already violent society, I think directors who release these films are playing a dangerous game. These films have nothing to offer apart from sickening violence.

[B.Basher]

No offence, but consider yourself part of the small minority that is bothered by this. I agree that there are a lot of films that glorify violence for violence sake, but they have their cult status in cinema. Hostel was pretty tame in my opinion compared to many other films that hit harder and were way more effective before it. The artistic merit of the violence in Hostel was next to none, a few grisly images might make you wince, but not turn you into a psycho.

The fact is, violent people come first. Hostel is one of those films made for the audience that love their gore, an audience of which, contrary to what you may think, isn't entirely made up of sadists and sickos.

The media are always trying to find scapegoats to excuse murderers, rapists and real violent people, what ever happened to just being crazy? I would relax yourself and keep an open mind before getting hung up on something you personally find offensive. Just stay away from it is the best advice anyone could give you. It's not going anywhere and above all, it's not hurting anyone.

Cheers :jointsmile:!

[MacWQ33]

Don't you guys think that film directors who release this kind of stuff have a responsibility to bear?

Absolutely not...don't go see the movie and you're fine.

Actually, their responsibility is to push the envelope as far as it can go while still maintaining entertainment IMO, and they're doing pretty good at thier job.

The first Hostel only had a few scenes of bad gore, and the rest of the movie was slightly boring IMO, but I'll still see the second to see what they have up their sleeve this time...as will anyone else that saw the first...it will make a lot of money.

And yeah, it's not the sickos who like it...it's the high school/college kids watching the movie.

[Staurm]

I'm not saying everyone who watches films likes Hostel are crazies harbouring sadistic and brutal desires. But the evidence is there to support the argument that these films occasionally inspire copycat killings, so obviously some are. Nonetheless, I find it kind of disturbing to think there are so many young guys watching this kind of thing and finding it harmlessly entertaining, if you can say that. It is a sad reflection on the state of society, and Tarantino and Roth and like should be ashamed of themselves for glorifying violence in this way. In the absence of anything to put me personally off the film Hostel, other than the fact its badly written, I find there to be nothing other than an unhealthy curiosity behind the darker side of the human psyche to interest a wider, less impressionable audience. There is of course nothing to be gained from denying it exists, but flooding the media market with these films at a time like this is not a very sensbile thing to do, and it worries me slightly.

[B.Basher]

I understand what your saying. Man, if anything I think these fucking war films are the problem. Shit like Black Hawk Down and all those other clones that try to do the whole slow motion, super-human American soldier thing as if it's all real life and documented. I won't go far as to call that shit propoganda, but I can't really see how it's anything else outside of it's general audience of gun hungry kiddies and flag waving marine corp. rejects.

Oooh, bit harsh maybe, but I felt like a rant while we're on it.

[Staurm]

Rant away man, I've just tanned a bottle of red nearly and I'm screaming out for some hot banter.

Black Hawk Down and the likes definately cater for a niche market, as does Hostel, Saw (not yet seen haha) and just your general torture-tino gorefest these days as well.

I suppose my opinion on Hostel could be influenced by the fact I watched it in the company of someone who was actually suffering from some form of psychosis, I kno this because of his behaviour throughout the time I new and worked for him. Particularly when he attacked me several days later in the night while I was sleeping, brandishing a bottle in my face and threatening to cut me open if I didn't leave within two minutes. It was something I said earlier in the night, drunkenly and stupidly.

I currently live in a town with the highest rate of herion abuse in the country, and just this morning -I don't know maybe it was a break from the usual rape fest that is the front cover of my parents Daily Record - 7 pages of the ugliest most frightening fear propaganda on Scotlands growing knife culture. They had to print all 7 pages in black and white, but despite that they didn't hold back in making anyone who read it frightened to go outside past night shed.

It's not just a Quentin of bad influences though, its just generally how crap society is. You only hear the bad things in the news don't you. I just don't need to be reminded of every bloody possibility.

[B.Basher]

Yeah man, I know what your talking about. Blimey, i'm lean as a bean and that post had me by the throat .
It reminds me of a discussion/argument I had with my mate when we were travelling. I asked him if he thought it was fucked up that we love shooting images of people in computer games. His reply was no, 'cause we know it's just a game. I replied, well how about movies? They have practically real gore effects nowadays, why do we love watching people get shot and maimed? His reply again was "because we know it's not real".

I kept arguing for a while that it doesn't really answer my question and he kept telling me my question didn't make any sense. After that we didn't say a word to eachother on the plane to Canada. Anyway, it's a question that comes to me now and again. If i'm such a passive person, why do I love my gory movies and video games? It's a very strange but very human double standard.

Phew, caned. Cheers!

[Samwhore]

Hostel, which is probably about the most disturbing and sickening film I have ever made the mistake of watching.

In my eyes, that means WATCH THIS MOVIE.