Friday, October 31, 2014

HOSTEL: PART III (2011)



Directed By: Scott Spiegel 
Written By: Michael Weiss 
Based On Characters Created By: Eli Roth 
Cinematography By: Andrew Strahorn 
Editor: George Folsey, Jr. & Brad E. Wilhite 

Cast: Kip Pardue, John Hensley, Brian Hallisay, Sarah Habel, Chris Coy, Thomas Kretschmann, Zulay Henao

While attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas, four friends are enticed by two sexy escorts to join them at a private party way off the Strip. Once there, they are horrified to find themselves the subjects of a perverse game of torture, where members of the Elite Hunting Club are hosting the most sadistic show in town.

What hurts this film is it's limited budget as the film has a plot and a story that actually feels bought out and that it could work, plus it has characters who you get to know and like so that their demises are sad and actually puts a damper on things.

The film just feels cheap and when it should be exciting, shocking and revelatory it feels like a cheap trick that could have one bigger and grander, but they fall short. Even the deaths as a sequel feel like they are trying to outdo themselves and be impressive as an attraction for the film in of itself, but the effects come off badly as fake then at times are only hinted at. So for some people the only reason they would want to watch this film is cheapened.

The film is thrilling and has a sense I energy and fun for such a film that should be grotesque that comes off as a bit tame. Though it tries

The film doesn't feel as cruel as the previous films. Though it manages to throw a few surprises. It's still torture porn, but light torture porn that is not as extreme or as exploitive.

I have hope that of there are more straight to DVD sequels that follow this films spirit at least and intentions.

I will say the death scenes aren't as inventive and memorable in this film at all. The locale has been changed to an American offshoot of the business, based In Las Vegas. Where high roller bet in the deaths and how it will be done, how long it will take, even what excuses will the victims use. With a set of killers who seem like cast members of the Hostel show, rather then them killing innocents themselves. Immediately making this sequel much smaller scaled and nothing can be sprawling. The first film in the series not to be directed by Eli Roth. Also the first of the series not to have a theatrical release. Though the previous films were monster hits.

Director Scott Spiegel brings a professional look and respectability to the series. Where as the previous films felt more devoted to splatter an were all over the place. Here it feels structured. Planned outward and moves straight forward.

I enjoyed this film quite a bit. Sore it has many problems, but I found myself totally enraptured to see which direction it would go next.

Random Thoughts i had while watching this film.

This is another film where every female cast member is extraordinarily beautiful.

The film has a great SCREAM-esque opening scene.

The films good enough with a good opening but it ends up feeling low Class

It's still has the major theme of Europeans preying on Americans

Though hostels in Las Vegas? Really?

I like that each film focuses on another facet of the business at hand and seems to each have a different style. Even though the first two were directed by Eli Roth. The second film which suffered from a story that felt similar except for the changing of the sexes of the characters, but with the changing of sexes even with it's ending it felt like a basic slasher of the 80's with women being the victims and shown no mercy. Though the changes were noteworthy and the style of direction was more polished and indulgent. 

GRADE: C-

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