Hollywood got us used to view “the other” through the Americans’ eyes. But the movie Hostel added a new perspective regarding the topic of “otherness” within modern society, and the novelty is that Americans are the “others” in this series of movies. We see how they are perceived by “other” nationalities in “other” territories as well.
Hostel belongs to the genre of gore/horror. Until this moment it has three parts. The main plot in the first two parts is about American backpackers touring Europe whose destiny takes them to Slovakia where all their tragedy begins. In Slovakia, two different perspectives are presented to the audience: one from the angle of Slovakians and the other from that of the American guys. Slovakians are fascinated by the fact that the guys are Americans only because they’ll be their best prey. While Americans see them as some second-class citizens.
In part I, three guys go to this country only because someone recommended them a hostel over there where there are pretty women. Once they arrive, their roommates are sexy ladies who they end up sleeping with. In Part II, the protagonists are three girls who study Art in Italy and go to Slovakia because a girl on the train(with destination to Prague) recommended them a spa over there.
Later on, the protagonists of both parts turn into victims of some sick rich people who pay thousands of dollars to enjoy torturing their victims. This movie implies various interpretations and highlights at the same time many topics relevant in the contemporary society: hatred towards American citizens (because of the imperialist American ideology), racism, criticism of capitalistic societies reflected in the awkard behaviour of rich people who don’t know what else to do with their money other than paying to torture.
Besides, the image of the female characters in all three parts are based on the image of femme fatale: women who use their sexuality to seduce men and destroy them, in this case, to literally “drag them to hell”.
Although part III has the exact same idea, the actions occur in Las Vegas and this time it’s Americans against Americans which implies the idea of the brutality of human nature nowadays in general where there is no “other” to hate.
Despite the extreme violent scenes, in this movie, which is based on true events, I actually think it reflects the brutality that prevails in our world nowadays in wars and places of torture as Guantanamo, Abu gharib….etc. At the same time it makes us as audience see a part of society that remained unknown until this movie was released: paying for torture and the pleasure of seeing others in pain.
Last but not least, there is one thing that attracted my attention: all protagonists are white and of course the rich people are represented as white as wel
l. Therefore, I asked myself: could this be as well a criticism of the dominance of the white bourgeoise ideology?