[Mathsorcerer]

Ok--one of my guilty secrets is out: I watched Hostel and Hostel II. What?

Seriously, though. Eli Roth has been learning how to make movies under the tutlage of both Quentin Tarantino (we'll forgive him for Death Proof--everyone makes a mistake now and then) and Robert Rodriguez. That is why Hostel was better than many people thought it would be and why Hostel II is even better.

The thing that makes these "slasher" movies so much better than any others has been plausibility. I doubt you could ever find a case of a real psychotic chainsaw-wielding maniac who lives with his cannibalistic family or the mutant descendants of atomic bomb testing fallout, but the people in the Elite Hunting organization are entirely possible. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if such activities actually occur somewhere in the world even now.

I won't spoil it, but I will say that several characters have wonderful plot twists and come to find out that they weren't who they thought they were. That is one sign of a well-written screenplay. Plus, Roth pushes a boundary that is missing in most moviews involving truly dangerous individuals; despite what some people might say about "Hollywood goes too far sometimes" there are still limits and lines that studios don't like to cross. I can't even tell you what it is--it would be too spoilerish.

The only regret I have about the movies is that it might give people the wrong impression of Slovakia, which is actually a beautiful country with decent food and wonderful local beers. I know from personal experience.

I doubt he'll make another chapter because there really isn't anywhere for him to go with the Elite Hunting story, except to change locations and/or see what the main character does next. However, Eli Roth is now on my list of directors to watch...and that is a good place to be, because I can be very particular about my movies and their quality.

[tobnameless]

I always wondered what that movie was about. Wasn't one of the Jean Claude Van Damme movies about that????

[Mathsorcerer]

I think Hard Target was about people who paid for the privilege of hunting humans, but Elite Hunting is all about paying for the privilege of torturing others. The members sign a contract that specifically states that they must kill their subject; failure to do so will result in the client being killed.

[Sam]

Never trust a woman with a pair of scissors.

[Mathsorcerer]

She let him off easy, though. She should have let him live. Now...try to explain that to your wife.