Eli Roth gloats over sadistic cruelty

Rating: 1/10 (4 June 2006)

Does anyone seriously believe Eli Roth's claim that this exercise in gloating sadism is a commentary on the war in Iraq? He has said in interviews that Hostel was inspired by viewing websites where one could arrange to kill human victims in third-world countries. Apparently he originally intended to make a documentary about this. For whatever reason (legal perhaps?) this proved impossible. Never mind - the movie clearly appeals to the same crowd as would roll up to see an actual "snuff" movie.
The only connection with Iraq that I can see is that unashamed celebrations of cruelty such as this have no doubt contributed to the culture that spawned the sniggering torturers of Abu Ghraib.