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Hostel

(2006, Rated R, Horror, Starring Derek Richardson, Jay Hernandez, Jennifer Lim)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Extremely brutal and graphic; not for kids or the faint of heart.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Rich people pay money to torture young tourists.
  • Violence:

    Gruesome, ongoing violence, in the form of torture and vengeful resistance to same (instruments include chainsaws, guns, knives, scissors, clippers, drills, hammers, pincers, and cars).
  • Sex:

    Blatant female nudity (including one brief full frontal shot), sexual activity, incessant sexual slang and derogatory language.
  • Language:

    Over 100 uses of the f-word in various forms, plus slang for genitals and sexual behaviors, plus assorted uses of "damn," "Jesus," and "hell."
  • Consumerism:

    Bars advertise brands of beer.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters smoke, drink to drunkenness, and do multiple drugs.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Hostel

Parents need to know that this film is absolutely not for kids. The premise and primary "plot" is torture, specifically, the torture of young travelers by wealthy adults who pay thousands of dollars for the experience. These images are graphic and bloody (severed limbs, penetrated genitals, sliced Achilles tendon, gouged eye, with weapons including scissors, chainsaws, knives, hammers, drills, clippers, guns, cars, and chairs). One character throws herself in front of a train when she sees her disfigurement following torture. These violent scenes are preceded by a sojourn in Amsterdam, featuring girls' breasts and one frontal nudity shot. Characters engage in boisterous sex and a man makes a homosexual pass at an unwilling young man. Characters smoke, drink, and do multiple sorts of drugs. Characters use frequent foul language (over 100 f-words, derogatory terms like "faggot" and, in this context, "gay," slang for genitals, "damn," "hell").

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the film's rudimentary moral lessons. What lessons is the film trying to convey about backpacking through Europe or class disparities? Or, you might consider the film's evocations of movie conventions, appeals to genre connoisseurs (including homages to executive producer Quentin Tarantino). Are these images cynical responses to a violent world or incisive commentary on violence in media?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Hostel?
  •  I think this movie is

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See all 41 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Very graphic, Very violent, Very good.

    This movie is NOT for people who do not enjoy extreme horror. I suggest at least watching SAW before watching this movie because it makes SAW look like dora the explorer and I'm not kidding. I'm usually fine with graphic violence but this one was WAYYY too gory. Although I was able to sit through it and enjoyed the movie, it was excellent in my opinion. Mouth watering for real horror fans like myself although like I said you will cringe during this movie, There is also a large ammount of nudity at the beginning. Know your kid people.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0

    In the beggining it does have a bit of sex and nudity but its nothing compared too films like american pie. With all the sites on the internet and all the things they talk about at school this is nothing. In the middle of film the gore starts. It may be bloody and they show differnt types of torture methods it looks preety fake. Its not that scarely but then it depends on who watches it. NOT FOR FAINT HEARTED

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0

    In the beggining it does have a bit of sex and nudity but its nothing compared too films like american pie. With all the sites on the internet and all the things they talk about at school this is nothing. In the middle of film the gore starts. It may be bloody and they show differnt types of torture methods it looks preety fake. Its not that scarely but then it depends on who watches it. NOT FOR FAINT HEARTED

  4. I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    It's very gory and has plenty of nudity/sex. Definitely not for young kids. I saw it when I was 15 though it depends on the kid.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 3.0

    Most parents will say no to letting their kids watch this, but most kids end up seeing it anyway. If they go over to a friends house, you can be sure they're watching movies like this. It's literally pointless to try to keep them from seeing it. I know the MPAA is a guide line and sure, good for them, but it's useless.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    SICK!

    THIS IS A VERY SICK AND DISTURBING FILM. Oh my god i almost threw up to this movie no joke. It was sick and plain stupid. No point. And one disturbing part had me turn off the movie. Please dont go see this movie and put this garbage in your mind.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 5.0

    One of the best films.

    People need to understand, just because you don't like gore does not mean you review a film badly, like commensesensemedia.org seems to rate any film involving gore as bad, clearly as they are anti-gore. However, this film is awesome, it puts you in environment of safety at the beginning, then to let you feel disturbed by the dramatic change into the twisted possible realism people could face. And does not get boring for a second, any-one who does get bored clearly does not understand the film, as there is more to it than just gore, if you think outside the box. As for the person who reviewed it saying its pornographic!?!? clearly you are very religious I must assume! But yes a highly entertaining film, giving light on the more twisted side of this world. Unlike the sequel hostel 2, which was complete shit :)

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0

    Excellent Story - Makes you think

    I have had inconsistent feelings about Quentin Tarantino films, but I really enjoyed this one. The story is full of double-meanings and moral dilemmas. It would have made an excellent book. This film is not afraid to push boundaries. It sheds light on a world that most people are comfortable in believing does not exist. I would consider this film appropriate to anyone with an open mind and who can differentiate fiction from reality. There is not as much gore as I had expected, but there definitely is plenty. There is also quite a bid of nudity, although I believe that, in general, bias against nudity in media is greatly exaggerated. It is not prudent to allow partiality for or against the more questionable elements of the cinematography to distract from the story and the real meaning that the filmmakers are trying to convey in HOSTEL. This is the kind of story I wish I would have had the opportunity to write about in school.

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Why? Why? WHY?

    Is all I can ask myself about some of these "horror" movies nowadays? Does sex and over-the-top brutal murders constitute as a great movie? This movie had two different sides. Porn. And Murder. There was hardly an in between and deserves no more than one star for such a disaster of a movie. I could hardly watch some of the scenes in this movie. It seems it's become a battle among writers as to who can think up the most disgusting slaughter fest, and it5's not very enjoyable.

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 3.0

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    terrible

    i think hollywood has gone to far. i mean these movies are being aimed towards kids. i dont think adults should even see it. i have not seen it but what my friends told me. i think any loving parent would not let there kids see this. there is torture and way more. these movies belong only in a small theater in africa. this is not something i want to see. it is sad what they are puting in theaters

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 3.0

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Thriller for Adult and Teens

    I really did like this movie because its more of a thriller/suspense movie rather than scary, but it really is quite full of gore. Graphic scenes of torture definately not made for the faint of heart.

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    I can't believe I didn't walk out!

    This movie is a true disgrace for what society has made a 'norm' for a rated R movie. This movie is half porn and half torture - 100% waste of any decent person's time. This movie needed a much different rating than R. For the sake of our children and american society as a whole our standards for what we allow to fall into the rated R category need to be revisited!

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    I'd like my money back thanks.... HOWEVER.........

    I have a few more productive things to say about this film. I was nightmare-ishly disturbed for days.. however... for there to be controversy over a film is really quite ridiculous! It's up to the individual person to decide what is right and wrong for them. Directors have every right to make any movie they want too.. last time I checked.. we were all individuals with our own tastes!! NOW ON THE OTHER HAND... FOR THE PARENTS WHO ALLOWED CHILDREN TO EVEN WATCH THIS FILM... I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.. IN WHICH I WILL CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES!! THERE SHOULD BE NO ARGUMENT WHATSOEVER THAT THIS IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY APPROPRIATE FOR A CHILD. IT IS NOT OK FOR A CHILD TO SEE SEX... AND GORE OF THIS MAGNITUDE!!! NO MATTER THE CHILD!!!!!! INTRODUCING STUFF OF THIS KIND TO A CHILD IS IRRISPONSIBLE!! IF WE DENSENSITIZE OUR CHILDREN THAT EARLY... WHAT IS LEFT FOR THEM TO LEARN?? IM TRUELY SICK TO MY STOMACH THAT ANY PARENT WOULD ACTUALLY SEE THIS AS AN OK MOVIE. TWICE NOW I'VE BEEN TO VERY GRAPHIC HORROR FILMS... IN WHICH A PARENT BROUGHT THEIR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS AGE 5 (INTO SAW II) AND I WAS SO HORRIFIED I ACTUALLY LEFT. TOTAL MOOD KILLER!! ANOTHER WAS IN THE MESSENGERS... WHILE IT ISN'T GRAPHIC.. IT HAS SOME SCARY SCENES. THE 4 YEAR OLD IN FRONT OF ME WAS CRYING.. HER MOTHER LOOKED AT HER AND SAID.. YOU KNOW ITS NOT REAL.. SHUT THE F**K UP AND QUIT CRYING. ARE PARENTS SO SELFISH THAT THEY CAN'T WAIT TO FIND A BABYSITTER .. INSTEAD WE TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO HORROR FILMS WITH US?? SO WHEN A CHILD AT AGE 12 SAYS HOSTEL ISN'T BAD.. IT'S USUALLY THE RESULT OF BEING DESENSITIZED FROM AN EARLIER AGE. Well I think that pretty much wraps it up... I'm disguisted.. and horrified at parents bad decisions these days because of their own selfish desires!!

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    terrible

    boring, all the scenes are them going to clubs and crap. it has probably like 4 scenes of torture. NOT SCARY AT ALL. but really bad for kids

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    ewwww

    im 11 years old going to the movie theater and watching this movie was a mistake the brutal torture and nudity was disgusting i wouldnt say this movie is scary its more of a thriller but it would still give children nightmares i cannot believe there making a part 2 of hostel i bet its going to be worse this is definetly a bloody disgusting gorey movie and kids under the age of 17+ should not watch this i give it two thumbs down

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 4.0

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