Hostel Acts
James P. Pinkerton over at Newsday bemoans the new Quentin Tarantino gore-fest Hostel and the fact that is is making quite a bit of money. He argues:

What does it say about American culture that "Hostel," the No. 1 movie in the country this past week, is about sexually sadistic torturing and killing?

By itself, that particular film-financial factoid isn't so big a deal, but the reality of American society behind it isn't encouraging: It can't be a good sign that the old story of the damsel in distress, rescued at the last minute, has been changed into that of a damsel being bloodied, mutilated and then killed. That trend deserves some comment - and maybe a little backlash.

Variety described "Hostel" as "unhinged gruesomeness." Director Eli Roth explained to Salon.com that he got the idea for the movie from a Thai Web site that purported to offer an online pay-for-kill experience. He said there were "guys out there who are bored with doing drugs" and bedding prostitutes. "Nothing touches them anymore, so they start looking for the ultimate high. Paying to kill someone, to torture them."

OK, but what's the social impact of such a movie? Will such a cinematic depiction convince some viewers that it's "normal" to have such thoughts? Will some be encouraged to copy what they see on celluloid?

And what of the larger social impact? The Web site horrormovies.ca observes, "It is merciless with the torture, the violence, & the sex. I guarantee you will walk out of this film trusting no one." That is, "Hostel" will make you hostile.

Pinkerton concludes:

[F]or all the barbarism of the past, there were, at the same time, powerful and prevalent cultural antidotes. Romances of knighthood and chivalry, for instance, summoned impressionable young people to uphold values such as restraint and, if necessary, sacrifice to a higher cause.

A new film, Tristan & Isolde, which opens tomorrow, seeks to revive that spirit. The Tristan story - a love triangle in which Beauty yields to Duty - has inspired great art through the ages, most notably Richard Wagner's 1859 opera. Alas, the new movie will not likely be part of any future artistic pantheon.

But at least Tristan tries. Unlike many movies these days, Tristan doesn't seek to profit from the gleeful depiction of human beings being tortured and slaughtered.

Now Base10's memory may be faulty and he is aware that there are multiple versions of the legend, but didn't T&I end with Tristan being mortally wounded by King Mark? As I recall, Isolde then comforts Tristan as he lay dying and pledges her undying love. As a result, Tristan then crushes her to death with his dying strength. Pinkerton may have a point about Hostel, but T&I doesn't illustrate it.
- posted by Base10 @ 9:40 AM