Hacking away at post-Scream smart-arsery, Eli Roth's bloody nasty debut pilfers from past classics but plays its scares straight. Kids-in-peril-in-the-woods is the well-worn format, but the characters are barbed and believable, while the fetid, flesh-eating virus attacking them is the most original slasher villain in years. The third act falls apart under the weight of references and a comic copper subplot which has wandered in from Porky's (or The Last House On The Left) but, as eye-watering exploitation goes, there are scenes that stick.

DVD Extras:

Roth's a Tarantino-school self-publicist whose enthusiasm's infectious. Which is just as well given his slick, sick gob-garblings are all over this DVD. First, five commentaries. Yes, five. His solo blab-track is brilliant, crammed with invaluable advice for fledgling filmmakers, plus amusing anecdotes for non-nerd types. Another he hosts with star Rider Strong is almost as good, while efforts with the actors, actresses and producers are still, remarkably, worthwhile. Beneath The Skin is a 30-minute doc that could've been drawn a little tauter, while the Region Two-exclusive featurette is a 40-minute talking head with the director, whose Young Ones-tinged animations The Rotten Fruit are also included. There is inevitably some overlap but Roth's always entertaining, whether railing against "neutered-down, castrated, pussy-assed horror films" or frankly assessing on-set tension: "Jimmy was being a cock."