Paradise Lost on DVD (2006)

JAMIOUSE from PILMOOR, YORK [Highly rated reviewer] , 30/06/2007

Paradise Lost or Turistas as it was originally know suffered badly at the US box office. Hence it's renaming for the UK and other countries. The film was marketed as another Hostel style film, with gore galore and general nastiness.

The film is however as far from Hostel as you can get, and that's a good thing. Paradise has a story and charcters that altough are cliched are better viewing. The violence isn't the point of the film, like it was with Hostel. The violence only happens in the last 30 minutes or so and it's explained why, and makes sense why the tourists are been aducted.

It's better than what the critics said, rent it for yourself and find out.

  36 out of 38 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Mattowar from Wath upon Dearne [Highly rated reviewer] , 03/08/2007

It's rare to watch an American film about a group of twenty-somethings getting into all kinds of grisly happenings without wanting to shout at the screen in the face of their stupid decisions that make you think they probably deserve something horrible to happen.

Turistas doesn't have this. It's a well put together if, ultimately, predictable thriller with the requisite levels of suspense and a glimpse into the darker realms of human nature and survival. Worth a watch.

  13 out of 16 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

James Frecknall from London, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 17/10/2007

Having seen the film originally marketed as Turistas, I couldn't understand why it needed to be renamed until I was told that it was owing to the flop in the US Box Office.

Having seen it, I have to say, I have no idea why it would have flopped at all. There a far worse Horrors that have got far better reviews and I genuinely thought that this one was a cut above the rest.

As opposed to many generic horrors that are put out, this one at least tries to explain why the violence is needed and that does make a refreshing change.

There are also some genuinely tense and terrifying moments that don't just play on the gore factor but also on basic human fears.

Fan of Horror? Don't let this one slip through the net.

  9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Graham from UK [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/01/2008

Paradise Lost appears to be considered by many the next in the long line of shock horror style movies started only a couple of years back by Wolf Creek, whilst this movie is not as dark and sinister as Wolf Creek for much of the plot it still remained quite chilling but more importantly entertaining throughout. Fact is, like others have commented on, the shock horror element does not really appear until the final 30 minutes but what made Wolf Creek and what made this movie for us was the build up. My wife and I have friends travelling at the moment and get weekly diary reports on their progress, I could almost picture them on the bus in Brazil, scrapping their immediate travel plans to sink a few beers. We certainly hope they give this area a wide berth! The story follows a group of backpackers who turn an unfortunate incident into what they perceived to be a great chance to party. I am not sure how realistic the sinister side to the plot is, there are some pretty scary places in Brazil so who knows, but the build up was really quite good, for once we did not want the characters to be killed off and completely identified with their predicament. The acting was reasonable and the tension impressive from a comparatively simply constructed movie. Gore hunters might be disappointed at the lack of this but that is not what defines a good horror/thriller in our minds. Good viewing 8/10. 4 Stars.

  9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Conchubar from Belfast [Highly rated reviewer] , 18/12/2007

If you enjoyed Wolf Creek then you will probably love this. Personally I cried in pain as I sat through 60 minutes of sheer hell in anticipation of an exciting final 30 mins (as per one reviewer's description). With the exception of some blood & guts, the final 30 mins was no more 'scary' than the preceeding 60. Wot a disappointment - why this warranted an 18 I'm not sure but it certainly did not live up to its certificate. Take my advice and give it a wide berth.

  5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews

A customer from London, England , 15/10/2007

I love horror movies... but its movies like THIS that make me think 'new' horror movies are always gonna be crap. If you have seen Hostel, then this is practically exactly the same -- except - the characters all look like ex-Abercrombie models, the one guy that doesnt look like an Abercrombie model is such an annoying, overly-cliche version of a British 'lad' that you just cant WAIT for him to die (and if I wanted to be surrounded by people like him,I'd just go down the pub) and his death isnt very satisfying...

you know everything thats gonna happen before it happens, you can tell which characters are dodgy a million miles away, and the ending is just... lame. I actually started to fall asleep at about an hour into the movie, and then start planning my lunch for the next day. Dont waste your time, really.

  5 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews