Disappointing, predictable, shallow and pointless

Rating: 4/10 (12 September 2006)

There's not much about this film that hasn't been adequately ripped to shreds by other posts (and deservedly so).
However I would like to take issue with one comment that suggested this film would only be enjoyed by stoners. I'm a stoner (and proud of it) and I thought the film was appalling. For one, the opening scenes in Amsterdam are so uncharacteristic of the place it's frankly offensive. In fact its portrayal of European culture in general is so ridiculous and inaccurate it makes me wonder if Roth has ever set foot outside his own country, or ever read a book about it for that matter.
The film is divided into two halves, and they may as well have been separate productions for all the connections they share. The first half parades as a titty-fest with the occasional chuckle, the second half is an aimless gore-fest without much gore. Admittedly the second half's psychological impact is somewhat effective, by using suggestion instead of in-your-face splatter the sense of suffering and depravity is enhanced. Still, the whole thing still comes off as much tamer than any of the previews suggested, though I think my gf may disagree with me on this one! Clues to the plot, if you can call it one, are thrown at you constantly, while actually believing it's being subtle. I was expecting some sort of twist at the end - when it didn't happen I had to wonder what the point of it all was. Unreasonable coincidences abound, usually as a method for the remaining character (I struggle to call him the 'lead') to exact his revenge. He becomes what he was running from, you see. Oh yes how clever and ironic.
The characters are uninvolving, deserving neither support nor pity. You just don't care what happens to them. Only one character (who was still so vacuous I can't be bothered to remember his name) promised any depth, and he was killed off quickly once the 'horror' started, leaving nothing in his place.
Even the score is badly done, with crescendos of ominous music suffocating scenes of little importance. Ooh sounds like something big is going to happen... no wait, it didn't. In fact that's the impression of the film as a whole - promising lots and ultimately failing to deliver.
The 4 stars is given for the premise of the film, and because the acting wasn't dreadful. It could have been a great thriller but in the end it looks to have been made for shock value alone. Pity it couldn't even do that.