What is the desired worth of a torture flick in today's world of PG-13 horror films and summer blockbusters? The first Hostel was a major success, in director Eli Roth's opinion, because it mirrored the violent atrocities of America's (and other countries') involvement in the war in Iraq. To Mr. Roth, it acted as sort of a grisly wake-up call to our country, and at that, it worked... sort of.

So what did he have to say about Hostel: Part II? Simply this: it was meant to tap into the "guy next door" paranoia that runs rampant in the United States. He wanted to create the unshakeable feeling that even the most average of men could become cold-blooded killers. Did he succeed? Well, in essence, Hostel: Part II is more plot-driven than its gruesome predecessor, but it checks the character development at the door. Its strengths don't lie in the same areas the first film's did. Instead it works on levels previously unseen for the flourishing franchise.

There is something going on, plot-wise, about a group of females (including Lauren German, Bijou Phillips, and Heather Matarazo) studying abroad in Rome when they are suddenly lured to a very familiar Hostel in Bratislava by a beautiful, yet mysterious, Slovakian woman for reasons they can't begin to fathom. In the first Hostel, major player Jay Hernandez and his pals were lured to this very hostel with the promise of very easy, very gorgeous women that are all-too-attracted to Americans. For this sequel, because females have become the victims, Roth had to challenge himself a bit. These three girls are promised, by this Slovakian woman, the most relaxing natural hot springs in the world located near this hostel. The girls buy it and end up there with little trouble.

Unbenknownst to them, American businessmen Todd (Richard Burgi, of TV's Desperate Housewives) and Stuart (Roger Bart, also of TV's Desperate Housewives), have already bidded on two of them, won the auction, and headed off for Bratislava. Todd seems very willing to torture and kill an "innocent," while Stuart is very reluctant to do so. But is there more bubbling beneath the surface than what truly meets the eye?

I did appreciate Roth's focus on plot over hardened bloodshed as I feel it made this a better watch for admirers of the previous Hostel. Sure, there's blood and guts (and torture) to spare, but I think what really sold Hostel: Part II to those that can find some beauty in it is the added back-story. The Elite Hunting corporation's "how-to's" on operation are quite interesting, and Roth approaches it like a true fanboy. We even get to see more of Paxton (Jay Hernandez), the survivor from the previous film, and how he's coping with his traumatic set of events. Indirectly, the way Roth approaches these elements makes the film feel more like a true sequel; a real continuation and deeper exploration of the mythology.