Hostel Part II

If Cabin Fever and Hostel hinted at Eli Roth’s potential, Hostel Part II surely marks a substantial leap forward in terms of his directorial abilities. Though this sequel is ultimately as uneven as its predecessor, there’s just no denying that Roth’s prowess behind the camera plays a significant role in the movie’s success (however mild it may be). The expectedly familiar storyline, which, this time around, follows three girls (Lauren German’s Beth, Heather Matarazzo’s Lorna, and Bijou Phillips’ Whitney) as they fall victim to the horrific hostel of the original, has been augmented with a behind-the-scenes look at the actual running of the torture-for-hire business, and Roth also offers up a pair of clients (Richard Burgi’s Todd and Roger Bart’s Stuart) who are preparing to use the service for the first time. With its relatively deliberate pace and uneventful opening hour, Hostel Part II suffers from precisely the same sort of problems as the original (ie it simply takes far too long for things to get going) and Roth’s efforts at character development generally fall flat – as the various actors are essentially trapped within the confines of easy-to-recognize stereotypes (eg the nerdy girl, the slutty girl, etc). Having said that, the performances are quite impressive (lead German is particularly effective) and Roth does a nice job of infusing the film with increasingly creative kill sequences – with the inclusion of a hilariously over-the-top moment towards the conclusion essentially justifying Hostel Part II‘s entire existence.

*** out of ****