Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Sep 23, 2025 10/10

It’s definitely exploitative. From the generous heaping of bare tits, to the sinkfuls of mangled limbs, it’s not purporting to be high art. However... it does take extra care into providing a framework for these exploitative elements to exist believably.

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Akos Peterbencze The Screen Apr 4, 2025

Inelegant, schlocky, and full-on? Sure. But it’s also a relentless B-movie hitting your nerves with a blood-soaked meat pounder.

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Justin Brown Medium Popcorn Apr 29, 2022 2/5

This movie is rough all around. The gore was well done and was something different we hadn't seen before in a horror film.

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Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn Apr 29, 2022 1/5

I did not enjoy watching this at all. The decisions the characters made were nonsensical. I couldn't recommend this less unless over the top gore with little substance is your thing.

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Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Dec 29, 2020 3/5

There's a darkly comedic edge to Hostel that works in the film's favor, but it's not quite as clever as it seems to think it is.

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Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 11, 2020 2.0/4.0

Of the two, Hernandez offers the stronger of the performances as we watch him transformed and nearly destroyed by his captors.

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Scott Weinberg TheHorrorShow Aug 28, 2015

This is a grim, gory, and unapologetically grungy piece of "survival horror." I dug it.

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David Keyes Cinemaphile.org Oct 25, 2013 3/4

Whereas most modern slasher films cut straight to the flesh-ripping for no purpose of art or psychological stimulation, Hostel marries them with skillful execution and, somehow, a relevant subtext.

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Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Aug 30, 2009

A series of interesting ideas floating around a sea of blood

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Brian Marder Hollywood.com Nov 20, 2008 3/5

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Lucius Gore ESplatter Jul 3, 2008 3.75/4

Roth is able to change the focus from frolicking raunchiness to extreme chilliness in a way that's quite sobering.

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Aug 3, 2007 A

A stern moralistic rebuke to ugly-Americanism. The movie is in-your-face but not pointlessly so.

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Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Jul 10, 2007

This is routine Roth as usual. Homophobia, attempted nihilism, vapid writing, paper thin plot, and nonsensical all the way...

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Jason Gorber Film Scouts Jun 21, 2007 A-

You are unlikely to find another contemporary American horror movie with as much intensity and style as this one.

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Brian Webster Apollo Guide Jun 6, 2007 76/100

The skill with which Eli Roth has constructed his film, especially its first 40 minutes, leads me to give it the benefit of the doubt. It's creepy, gripping, horrifying stuff.

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Ethan Alter Film Journal International Mar 1, 2007

While there are some cheap thrills to be had here, much of the movie is profoundly boring.

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Christy Lemire Associated Press Dec 29, 2006

Whether or not this kind of horror movie is your cup of tea, you have to at least admire Roth for the daring and creativity with which he illustrates that concept.

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Michael A. Smith Nolan's Pop Culture Review Dec 13, 2006 3/4

...no one is going to mistake "Hostel" for a travelogue, unless they are looking for a journey full of terror.

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Scott Tobias AV Club Nov 27, 2006 C

Hostel's merely unpleasant and more than a little dumb.

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Matt McAllister Future Movies UK Oct 7, 2006 6/10

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