Writer/director Eli Roth's deft sequel to his 2005 original has increased production values, better character development and a more mature style. Hostel featured male backpackers being tortured for sport, but the genders are switched here, as three young American girls are lured to Slovakia for a spa break. Instead, they find themselves auctioned off as victims to satisfy the sick and violent fantasies of the privileged. The blood flows copiously, but it's the moody evocation of sheer depravity through suggestion that provides most impact, as Roth creates a terrifying atmosphere where the plight of the victims is keenly felt. The hardcore theme of man's inhumanity to man is reinforced by the surprise narrative swerves and some well-judged gallows humour.

Three American college students studying abroad are lured to a Slovakian hostel, and discover the grim reality behind it.