*SPOILERS throughout*Given that this film has more alternative titles than lead actors, I'd recommend that it be treated as an appropriately mish-mashed production. It's a pity that it misleads the viewer - nowhere are there the haunted houses or stained saws as the DVD box shows, and nor is it actually about a hotel, hostel, or house. The plot is more complex than the initial setup has us believe: Michael Dare, a cab-driver (Polk) is sent out to a fare that seemingly doesn't exist...and is beset by a homeless man who mumbles gibberish at him whilst beating himself up. Having successfully framed Dare for the attack, it's put to the prosecution team that Dare is suffering from a rage disorder, and needs clinical treatment. Fortunately,the Straun Institute is offering free clinical trials...Through woefully subtle (and often missed) shadowing, we see that the whole setup is aimed to ensure that GenTech, the company that Michael's whistleblowing father betrayed, is implicated throughout in his incarceration at the hands of Dr. Straun. It's here that the movie shows off its best cameos - John Kassir (best known as the voice of the Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt) and Andrew Divoff (The genie from Wishmaster I & II). Kassir camps it up as Moe Moebius, a kind of modern- day Igor to Divoff's evil genius, Straun. Both play their roles well, but are hampered by poor direction, and a total lack of tension within the plot. The lack of horrific enough props (Dare is at one point menaced by an umbrella dotted with sponges) gives the clinic a total lack of menace. Even the 'gritty realism' of a warehouse setting doesn't lend anything to the overall hokey tone of the film. The scenes between Dare and Dr. Verger, a pretty young scientist, are possibly the only redeeming aspects of the film. Sex is a seller, so obviously 'enraged' sex is a bigger seller...right? The violence is minimal, and serves to underline the lack of dramatic tension. Though she may be sweet and geeky, Duff's character leaves the viewer almost as cold as Polk's does, lacking any depth. The obligatory horrific scenes at the end of the film are no revelation. In fact, the resolution of the film simply kills off a set of characters in one go, robbing the viewer of any chance to actually make any sense out of the film's premise. The special effects aren't overused, but given how unspectacular the film is, you might forgive them overloading on blood and gore. There is the obligatory mad science laboratory, filled with glowing ingredients and body parts. The 'monster in the cellar' is possibly the only valid claim for a SFX budget, and DiTillio labours on under layers of latex, grunting madly and gurning his way through the film. 'Monsters' aside, the overall effect is of a drama that somehow tried to stray into the territory of Creepshow (1982) and the like - but lacking the plot to let Divoff and Kassir inject a little horror into the plot and leave us rooting for the wishy-washy hero and heroine.

This movie was so absolutely horrible, it inspired me to write my first review on IMDb.My friend and I are horror movie connoisseurs. We've seen them all - bad, good, awful yet funny...It doesn't matter what you in enjoy in a good horror movie, this movie will not deliver it. It was a waste of my 88 minutes and 3 bucks from start to finish. Even if you like to watch bad horror movies simply to laugh at how bad they are...this movie will simply make you want to rip out your eyes and curse the society which gives birth to such horrible, poorly acted films.DO NOT RENT!

Let me describe the UK cover for this movie, it's called Nightmare Hostel and is apparently an Unrated Directors Cut. Despite being Unrated it actually carries an 18 certificate and comes with the following warning - "contains scenes of graphic horror and violence & nudity", furthermore the bottom of the cover has the following - "creates a new level of gruesome, beyond that of Roth's Hostel and Gordon's Re-Animator" I think they got the wrong movie!Violence & Horror? very, very little. Nudity? None.Avoid it at all costs, it's complete s**t!

STRAUN HOUSE Starring: Denice Duff, Andrew Divoff, Karen Black and John Kassir. "So, You think you're ANGRY now !,Wait till THE DOCTOR sees YOU !"We wish they had used one of the original titles, Dr. Rage or The Last Patient, The public would have loved this 'Reanimator-esque' Mad Doctor romp. Denice Duff is gorgeous and has some wonderful scenes. Andrew Divoff seems over the top, Until you are privy to whole plot. Karen Black as a lawyer, No really ! John Kassir is a rubber face henchman, Brings new meaning to the word "Lackey". Theasylum has a good scare here and seems to let it breath with gusto. The beginning and the middle set up a fantastic finale with multiple gore effects