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Saw Jigsaw's legacy of killing a man continues in IV. The brutality of the traps remains the same, but the story starts to get a little too convoluted. The new characters aren't as memorable, but the film delves into Jigsaw's motives in an interesting way. Not the best of the series, but an important part of the whole. Well, Saw IV, that fourth installment in the saga that doesn't ask permission but just strums through like an amphetamine-fueled autopsy video. At this point in the series, you're not even trying to understand the timeline anymore - you just accept your fate, sit back, and let Jigsaw teach you a moral lesson... literally on the operating table.

Plot? What plot? This is like watching an hour and a half of YouTube's "Top 10 most brutal deaths in Saw" video, but with a couple of flashbacks thrown in that you don't know if they happen yesterday, tomorrow, or 2003. Jigsaw's dead but alive but maybe not dead but maybe yeah attitude is so meta that even Tenet would pale.

Toxic Avenger Part II represents the glut of late-'80s exploitation cinema. Its self-consciously cheap-production aesthetic is part of Troma Studios' ideology, where the film functions as both parody and political statement. Toxie is a grotesque hero who challenges beauty standards and the classic superhero archetype. The film is not an easy watch, but it is a culturally interesting artifact. The Japanese parts bring a touch of exoticism to the film that wasn't there in the atmospheric part. Kimonos, temples and even sumo wrestlers are used in an exaggerated way, but still bring a multicultural feel seasoned with humor. They remind us how the film also laughs at everything. If Toxie is a mutator and a machine of violence, he assesses Japanese culture with genuine curiosity. He doesn't mock but wonders and tries to adapt, albeit clumsily. This makes him a more sympathetic character and brings a funny contrast to his appearance and violent actions. A completely absurd slapstick moment.

Hostel is a brutal and harrowing experience that hits you straight in the gut. Eli Roth combines the carefree nature of travel with extreme sadistic horror in a way that will haunt you for life. Not for the faint-hearted, but a must-see for fans of the genre. If Saw sparked curiosity, Hostel pushes it to the limit. The film spares no one, and therein lies its strength and weakness. This is a film for those who set out to test their own boundaries between horror and disgust. Rarely does a film make you feel so intensely uncomfortable. Hostel doesn't just show horror, it feels it. This is not a film for everyone, but for the brave it is an unforgettable experience that will linger in your mind all night long.