Hostel Part II

This unnecessary sequel plays as an exact replica to the original conceit; but this time it's the girls instead of the boys who discover what evil lurks in the heart of Eastern Europe. The first was a ground-breaking return to the grindhouse style, albeit with a considerable budget and backing from Tarantino (again on board as an Executive Producer). The issue with this reprise is the laciviousness with which the girls are fetishised as they suffer their respective fates.

There was something darkly prurient in the original as the gratuitous thrills were meted out to all sexes with equal random vileness - here the camera lingers over the (female) flesh and ritually torments the viewer as the leads are sliced and diced (at one point in a literal bloodbath) with seeming glee. Hostel Part II does exactly what is says on the tin and is a weaker film for it. I doubt we have seen the last of the franchise but this already represents one too many visits to the torture-porn well.

Released 29th June 2007 by Sony Pictures Entertainment / Screen Gems.

Written by Simon Cole.