The 2005 splatter film Hostel reunites writer/director Eli Roth and composer
Nathan Barr, who had previously worked together on Cabin Fever, released in 2002. Unlike the score for that film, which was performed entirely by
Barr himself, Roth wanted an orchestral score for Hostel, something along the lines of classic horror films like Psycho, Jaws, and The Shining. And he got what he wanted, for the Hostel score is indeed along those lines, employing a 75-piece orchestra (i.e., the FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague). The result is an impressively lavish score for a very cheaply shot film, one that was made for less than five million dollars. The score itself is creepy and filled with spacious, subtle details that suggest the sort of emotions intrinsic to a film like Hostel. The CD includes worthwhile notes from both
Barr and Roth, and there are also a few photos from the film that showcase the sort of horror at hand here. ~ Jason Birchmeier