'Global Terror' at its finest.

Rating: 10/10 (10 October 2006)

This film is about human commodification and Darwinian economics. The Americans depicted want more than a painting or a statue from their trip to Europe -- they want stories of subjugating natives. But their fraternal lust is outstripped by the international business community (all First World players) who want to experience murder first-hand. Sex is just foreplay for what turns into an erotically charged bloodbath. This film functions at so many levels -- first as an aggressive, homo-social "buddy picture", then as a first-rate slasher, and finally as a great indictment of unbridled capitalism. I can't believe this film got tepid reviews from anyone (at least have the courage to hate it outright). Strongly recommended.
A number of comments seem to concern themselves with the notion that is in some way an attack on European values. National Socialism was about the banality of evil -- everyday people doing what they thought was expected of them. Here we have both Americans and Europeans performing social stereotypes that have been culturally determined for centuries: hunting and fu*king and buying immunity. If you can't handle that, or find it ugly, then maybe you don't want to watch "horror" movies. The horror in this film is all human, emanating from within -- there's no supercosmos or grand inquisitor. It's about people who have forgotten that they are human (hyper-alienated), and at least Roth has the good grace to take this on in a loving and spirited manner. I say again, this film is way more subversive (and technically beautiful) than it's being given credit for.