Chase_Witherspoon

Facsimile of the first instalment offers nothing new, though the roles are now reversed and it's the girls turn to guest at the notorious horror hostel. Roth's sequel forms a tenuous connection with the original, before unleashing a much more sadistic brand of sexual violence and degradation at times akin to a more expensive version of nazisploitation.

A few casting surprises includes Edwige Fenech in a brief cameo as an art teacher at the beginning, and then one of the heroes of shock cinema Ruggero Deodato playing a cannibal no less. The rest of the characters are essentially cliches whilst many of the actors playing them look like budget versions of bigger names (for instance the lead is a dead ringer for Jessica Biel).

Echoes of 'Westworld', 'Night Train Murders' amongst others, but apart from some more inventive (and gruesome) ways with which to despatch hapless victims, the plot is now much too implausible and there's not a whole lot to recommend.

Blaxploitation western stars DoQui as a happy go lucky army recruit who finds love and tragedy as part of the respected 10th cavalry division during the Civil War.

Charming DoQui is well suited to his role of serial philanderer attempting to make good of his situation, whilst athlete turned actor Rafer Johnson, Isaac Fields and Lincoln Kilpatrick stand-out as his more disciplined fellow cavalrymen who treat the uniform and its obligations with pride (albeit with some personal conflict).

Interesting to see both Cesar Romero and Barbara Hale appearing in minor supporting roles playing the moderate Colonel and his concerned wife, whilst Robert Dix darkens up to play the local Indian chief who's forged a friendship with Johnson's character in particular whom he initially treats like a brother.

Attractive Janee Michelle gets an 'introducing' credit despite being active in television for many years, here playing the part of the local seamstress torn between two lovers, a subservient role that seems to offer little more than eye candy for the male characters to consume. Ironic that the character who makes the clothes is also the one seen disrobing forthwith, but then it's preferable to Isobel Sanford (soon to become a household name on 'The Jefferson's') whose pointless incidental part as Sergeant Kilpatrick's local ladyfriend is well below her talents. So whilst there's a decent female cast assembled, their characters haven't much substance.

The action scenes with the Indians and settlers are handled with skill, but otherwise Cardos' directorial debut is clumsily edited and generally quite bland. The 74-minute edit I saw looked like it had been severely hacked with continuity errors and characters who disappear without explanation yet despite the pruning, it's doubtful I missed much worth seeing. This isn't 'Take a Hard Ride' and even blaxploitation fans might struggle to be entertained despite DoQui's natural charisma.

Dissident posing as a minister (Kroeger) talks his way aboard a cargo ship bound for Bali, but upon arrival his character is questioned by the port authority and the ship on which he's sailing is shunned leaving its captain and crew in eternal limbo.

A psychological thriller of modest proportions, economical and entertaining in spite of its rather crude technical qualities. Grinning, cherub-faced Kroeger seizes a rare opportunity to take the lead, enjoying a succulent Chinese meal, lavishly prepared by the subservient ship's cook Wu (played by future 'Hawaii Five-0' villain Khigh Deigh), then spends the rest of the episode tormenting the rigid Captain (Johnston) whose regret for taking aboard the stateless pariah appears immutable.

Compact allegorical thriller creates sufficient tension culminating in a paradoxical conclusion and perfect poetic justice to cure the nuisance once and for all.