Interesting article. I don't entirely agree with your opinion to be honest, as I think the extreme violence gave the film an agreeably gnarly, dangerous tone, which I'd happily take over bland and inoffensive (I'd rather be offended than bored). It very much takes it's cue from the exploitation cinema genres of the 1970s, and has a nicely stripped down tone. It's no masterpiece, but it delivered the genre goods.

On the other hand, I get that some people just don't like violent films, and that's fair enough. :)