Hostel: Part III

Hostel: Part III is currently streaming on Netflix, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 5/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Kip Pardue leads a cast that never overplays its hand. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Hostel: Part III keeps coming up in conversation. The writing in Hostel: Part III treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Set in Las Vegas, the film centers on a man who attends his best friend's bachelor party, unaware of an insidious agenda that plays into hunting humans. The performances from Kip Pardue and Brian Hallisay give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It was released in 2011. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Hostel: Part III delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Kip Pardue carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.