A movie like Hostel II tends towards the difficult when it comes to reviews. On the one hand, it's completely review-proof, in that the people who want to see it, your genre fans/Roth fans/etc., will see it no matter what. If anything, a bad review would serve as incentive; the means by which to be further contrary. And yet, for someone unsure what to expect, the very surprises that might sell them on it would be partially diminished in their revelation.

I won't do that. Even behind a cut, because they are simply to delicious to risk. If I'm vague, this is why. Do not take said vagueness for apathy, however, because Hostel II is a spectacular example of how to do this genre right. It slides easily into the top five horror films of the last five years, far surpassing even its predecessor in quality.

Among my few complaints regarding the elder Hostel was the fact that there was really no emotional connection. Beneath the stylish film making, it was basically three chuckleheads who died in interesting ways. While the principles in Hostel II certainly have flashes of carelessness, Roth allows them the time to be more than that. To be strong, and intelligent, and loyal to each other. To fight the "ugly American" sentiment that all of the first film's primaries embodied (while reinforcing it in an all together different manner). That extra bit of time with the characters takes the film from a well-done splatterfest into the realm of true suspense. Instead of ugly things happening to ugly Americans, you get three women that could be anyone you knew in college. Even your best friend. You care what happens to them.

One surprise that I can mention without risk of spoilers is the level of gore. There's interesting little of it. While what there is of it is definitely disturbing and grotesque, much of it is off-screen, lending the "money shots" that much more oomph. And if we're talking body count? I'm pretty sure just the trailer for Live Free or Die Hard has it beat. Eli Roth lets your imagination do the heavy lifting for most of the film, offering but glimpses at the horror that lies beneath idyllic towns and best laid plans, right up until the jaw-dropping final sequences.

At 96 minutes, Hostel II is concise and well-paced in its storytelling and scares. The acting/casting and writing were both an improvement on the first film, and the cinematography was gorgeous, enough to make a person want to book a trip to the eastern block, even after a film that should have the exact opposite reaction.

I can't recommend it without reservation just because of the nature of the film. While it's smarter, better executed, and far easier to stomach than a lot of its ilk (Aja, I'm looking at you), it is still what it is. Being more subtle than Saw II does not make it a picnic on top of Marshmallow Mountain. But for horror aficionados? Hostel II is an absolute triumph. I loved it.

(P.S.: The trailer for 30 Days of Night was worth the price of admission alone.)