Turistas (2006)

"Turistas" (2006) isn't quite as bad as all its countless negative reviews make it out to be; I'd call it an average horror film and rate it a 6 out of 10. It takes the formula of 2005's vastly superior "Hostel" (tourists at an exotic location are systematically kidnapped and killed) with a popular urban legend (organ harvesting).I'd guess that there were two primary reasons why this disappointed audiences the way that it did. First, it's relatively slow for a mainstream horror film. The "horror" doesn't start until a full hour into the movie; the first hour is devoted to a lengthy setup and a (rather beautiful) examination of the natural beauty of Brazil, where the story is set.Second, there is probably less gore than you'd expect, given the film's story device. Outside of the scene depicted in the poster below (and all of the film's trailers), there's actually very little to satisfy gorehounds excited by the movie's premise.It's worth noting here, too, that the film was boycotted in Brazil — it certainly doesn't portray its Brazilian characters in a favorable light. (Lead actor Josh Duhamel even apologized publicly to the country.)With all of that said, I don't really hate "Turistas." It has has three actors that I enjoy watching. Duhamel himself is just great, as are Olivia Wilde and Melissa George. I thought Miguel Zamore made a pretty decent villain. The scenery was gorgeous, the setup succeeded in building tension for me, and the story device was nicely unsettling. (Yeesh.)I can't actually recommend this movie, as I doubt others will be as forgiving with it as I am. But I liked it well enough.

Unlike many of the critics when it was first released, I have a lot of time for this twisted little movie. As with the best horror movies it affects you more because you can't get out of your mind that it just could happen. There is no supernatural aspect to shield you from reality.I won't give too much away because it does have some unexpected plot twists. Suffice to say the story is about a group of backpackers from Britain, Europe, the U.S. and Australia that becomes stranded after a bus accident in a remote area in Brazil. They receive descending degrees of helpfulness from the locals until they realise that they should have caught the plane instead.This definitely isn't a movie the Brazilian Tourist Board would want you to take seriously in the year of the Rio Olympics; apparently Brazilians really didn't like it at all when it was released 10 years ago, and it was boycotted.They felt about it the way Australia's Tourism people probably felt about "Wolf Creek". I know people who walked out of that one, although it wasn't actually boycotted."Turistas" is particularly well made, and shot on location with a very believable group of actors playing the likable and adventurous tourists. The characters are well-defined with Desmond Askew just about stealing the show as Finn, the scrappy and irrepressible little Englishman. Josh Duhamel plays Alex, a reluctant American traveller who has come along to keep his sister Bea and her friend out of trouble as they enter the sort of places strangers would be wise to avoid.Melissa George makes an impact as Australian surfer girl Pru. As an Aussie I must admit to a certain amount of national pride as she flitted around in a bikini revealing a body that is a tribute to an active, outdoor Australian lifestyle.You could argue that the film gets a little predictable towards the end, but I found the whole thing was so revved up by that point that you hardly noticed. As far as Brazil's image is concerned, I'm pretty sure most people wouldn't take the actual premise behind the story too seriously, but maybe it's a reminder that double checking travel plans anywhere you go might be a smart idea - if the film has a message it's no more perverse than that.Anyway, international politics aside, I think you do get your money's worth with this travel package.

When I saw this on Television I knew that a lot was being left out, I had to buy the movie and see what was intended to be seen, I watched it and was overwhelmed because I didn't realize that Melissa George was in this movie and she is cast along side, Josh Duhamel mostly known for Transformers and Life as We Know It, and Olivia Wilde. The film isn't scary as much as it is blood and screams, the screams are because people are being chased, in which case it's only natural to do so. In other words there wasn't anything hateful to say but there also wasn't anything that stood out enough to be exciting, I do recommend it though because it's entertainment.

I thought this was a very interesting movie.I loved the way the movie was set out and how Kiko was luring the tourists into his uncles death trap but then decides they are good people and tries to get them to leave before his uncle arrives.There wasn't too much gore but just enough for a movie like this. I also liked the ending as it was a happy one for those who survived the ordeal as they were on their way back home - it's good to know that they all didn't die and some came back alive.It reminded me of 'Human Centipede' as the tourists were trying to get away from a mad surgeon just like the 2 girls in the Human Centipede.After reading the reviews on IMDb I thought it would be a really bad movie but it wasn't and I enjoyed it and would recommend it.