RM - Hostel Deconstruction

Theatrical release poster

Titles: Hostel
Director: Eli Roth
Year Released: 2005
Budget: $4,500,000
Takings: $47,277,326 (US)
                £4,216,561 (UK)

Dolby Digital
Screen Gems
LGF (Lions Gate Film)
Next Entertainment Raw Nerve


The opening to the film starts off with water dripping and the sound of scrubbing. It is not known what is being cleaned. There are several shots of pipes with water dripping out of them, this shows that the these have recently been used, anchored through the scrubbing sound.
 

Also anchored through the use of shots of instruments which are either positioned as they are just about to be used or just have been used. In the background it is apparent that someone scrubbing however what the person is scrubbing is unknown to the audience.


In another shot there is foam running down a wall with a surgical coat position to the left on the coat. Anchors, as well as the instruments, this unknown character is either a surgeon or likes to perform operations on people. As this is a horror film it would be expected that the latter is the case.


There is also a shot of a jar of water. The colour of the water is red, signifies diluted blood? This also anchors that an operation has occurred and the room is being clears. In the jar scissors can be seen being cleaned.


The audience can see water dripping down into a puddle of water, with the sound of dripping of water slowly stopping, blood is also being washed down a drain - gurgling sounds accompany the shot - further anchorage that an operation has occurred.


All shots mentioned are close ups with a blurred background, a form of building tension and holding information from the viewer.
 

The final shot is of a chair, central in the shot, which looks like victims can be strapped into, thus hinting at what is to come in the film and a key aspect of the film. A door then closes with squeaks to accompany it. The shot the goes black. During the entire duration of the opening someone is whistling.


2 mins 11 seconds


IMDB Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450278/
Wikipedia Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostel_(2005_film)