So I finally watched this last night. I never had the stones to do it in high school and after that I never found it in a video store. After reading Quint's review of it at AICN I decided to give it a whirl.
This is not a great movie. I wouldn't even call it a good movie. However, whatever the hell it is, is satisfying.
The rape isn't the most brutal I've seen on screen (that honor goes to Once Upon a Time in America) but it was definitely unsettling. And then the revenge. The glorious revenge...
The movie hasn't aged well and the audio sucks for the most part but when it's working it's an effective little tale of torture and revenge. Being 30 years old, I can see why it garnered the hype. However, the Hostels of the 2000s have eclipsed it technically and in terms of plot and dialogue.
If you're a horror completionist or even fanatic, this is a must-see and you don't need me to tell you this. Everyone else? Well, unless you're down for the original grrrl power flick replete with gang rape and horrific acts of violence, you'll probably want to pass.
Thoughts?
