Brutal and frightening... but not for long.

Rating: Null/10 (5 January 2006)

Eli Roth can be commended for attempting to do something other filmmakers have left only half done. He has attempted to put on film the actual, relentless and somewhat realistic image of torture and pain. The film achieves a cold level of intensity. It makes its audience feel isolated, and successfully prevents anyone from looking at the film with any humor. Its true and dry terror. But it does not last for long.
Only so many bodies can pile up, only so many human beings can be subjected to sadistic torture before the audience gets tired. Thats right: tired. After the first 40 minutes or so, you will desire to leave the theater; not because you can't handle it anymore, but because you've already handled too much.
Roth tried something. He tried a film without humor or cutaways. It didn't work. Hitchcock's old rule remains the same, I'm afraid, when it comes to horror. It's not what you see, its what you don't see. Roth would do well to remember it.