Author’s Note: All articles on MK Horror contain spoilers.

Article written by Maggie K. Ward

Distributed by Lionsgate.

When I heard they had made a third Hostel film I thought to myself, “What possibly could they add to this story?”  They have upped the stakes and brought the Elite Hunting Club to America.  In the first two Hostel films, Elite Hunting had a factory in Slovakia, but a location in America only makes it more terrifying for America viewers.  It has taken over our homeland.

We are introduced to Carter (Kip Parde) and Scott (Brian Hallisay), buddies that are heading to Las Vegas for Scott’s bachelor party.  Immediately we are told of some minor history between Carter and Scott’s wife to be, a tiny detail that will come back at the end of the film.

The added element to Hostel: Part III is the desire to kill someone you already know, versus a random stranger you have no attachment to.  They also add gambling among the high rollers.  Rich pricks bet on how long people will survive random torture.  Mike (Skyler Stone), for example, is strapped to a chair and a “doctor” peels his face off while the audience applauds his artistry.  In addition, they bet to see how long it takes for him to beg for his family.  In his case, one minute and fifty-eight seconds is all it took.

Justin (John Hensley), on the other hand, is tied to a chair and shot with numerous arrows.  He survives nine arrows.  He whispers, “It’s ok,” to the shooter before she puts one into his brain to shut him up.

Kendra’s (Sarah Habel) line, “Nobody knows anybody,” is another big hint about why Carter brought Scott to Las Vegas.  Turns out he lured Scott to Vegas and joined the Elite Hunting Club to kill his best friend.  Scott’s death is the main event.  Carter states he doesn’t feel the rush from killing another human anymore.  “I need to kill someone that matters,” he tells Scott.  Rewind back to the nonchalant comment about the history between Carter and Scott’s fiancée.  Bingo.  There’s your flaming obvious motive.

But, the joke’s on Carter.  The Elite Hunting Club has show stopping ideas of their own.  The battle between Carter and Scott is a testosterone filled one: swords, knifes, chainsaws.  Scott quickly kills (or so we think) his friend and removes the bologna on his forearm with the bloodhound tattoo.

When it comes to gore, Hostel Part III is lacking.  While some of the deaths were creative, the amount of blood was limited.  Sure, there’s a nifty bit where Scott cut a guys arm off.  Blood actually sprays onto the camera.  But other than that, it seems they tried to make Hostel more of an action flick.  Whether horror or action, it lacks as either genre.

Of all the (current) Hostel films, the third installment is by far my least favorite.  I suppose I have a soft spot for the female empowerment of the second film.  The story in Hostel Part III was weak and under developed.  They could have had so much more.  More substance.  More blood.  More torture.  At least they tried to add a new element to the story.

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