…interestingly, this film had a bit of a similar feeling to Cabin Fever, in that you are not initally sure what kind of film Roth is making. The story starts off in Amsterdam, with a pair of American backpackers and a random Icelandic sex-addict enjoying the nightlife. At this point, it feels very much like American Pie, and I was left wondering why people had been saying how bloody this film was. But, the Amsterdam scenery brought back memories of my last visit there, so I sat back and lapped it up.The fateful trio manage to get locked out of their hostel and meet a local pimp who tells them of a hostel in Bratislava full of attractive women who are gagging for it, so this begins the trek across Europe. Along the way you are treated to some lovely, albeit bleak, scenery - I must remember to take a holiday to Bratislava some day.Once our ‘heroes’ are nicely checked into the hostel, you start to get hints that things are perhaps not all what they appear and that something sinister is lurking in the backdrop. For a start the girls at the hostel seem way to nice for Eastern Europe! The next morning, after a night in the disco, we discover that the Icelandic sex machine has “checked out”. After a bit of searching, the Americans decide to forget about it and go drink some beer with the girls which leads to both of them being drugged. Luckily one manages to get locked in a cupboard whist searching for the toilets, and is spared a horrible fate… for a short while at least.Josh, wakes up in some kind of dungeon and is confronted by the eccentric German fellow whom they met on the train earlier in the movie. He says how he always wanted to be a doctor, however he had shakey hands so didn’t quite make it. But no worries, he gets to fine tune his skills using the array of tools in the room, and this is where it starts to get quite gory. I do admire Roth for not going all out on the gore, in many ways only suggesting the horrific torture unfolding before the viewers, and also not dwelling on it for too long. As a director he has definately matured in that respect.The other American, Paxton, also ends up in the dungeon which turns out to be part of a derelict factory. Although his piano career is now ruined, he manages to escape his torturer and contemplate escap (Tip: Never run with a chainsaw!). All throughout this, the filmmakers do an excellent job of conveying the terror and “screwed up”-ness of the situation. This is definately something which keeps you on the edge of your seat certainly contrasts with the lighthearted beginning of the film.Instead of simply running, or fighting, you see Paxton beginning to take his fate into his own hands and showing morallity. Wether that be through choosing to rescue a fellow captive or ultimately his revenge on the delightful German fellow who chopped up Josh. The characters are totally believable, even the torturers, and that is what adds a lot of weight to this film.If you sweep back the gore and the sex, you end up with a film that examines the dark depths of the human psyche - would you pay for the opportunity to take a life? How would you do it? Would you show mercy? The torturers are not nameless, faceless machines. They are real people; with families, small children. They are doing it for different reasons - the feeling of power, control, fear; to live their dreams. Some are addicted to it and keep coming back for more. Some do it mercilessly, others cannot bear the screams or begging of their victims.From Josh and Paxton’s perspective you feel their terror, which leads you to ask what would you do in a similar situation? How far would you go to survive? How far would you go to save another human being? How far would you go to have revenge?An excellent film, recommended for all the gore fans out there but also to those looking for something a bit deeper.Wow. My first review, I’ve not really wrote something like this for ages so apologies if it is rubbish. Stay tuned for V for Vendetta! (more…)