I'm always disappointed in films when they're raved about. I only heard a couple of reviews but was told that it was supposed to be really 'gory' and 'disturbing'. Like you, I thought it was quite tame compared to some films!! I would have put it on a par with 'Saw', but with a bit more soft porn at the beginning!
Why QT attached himself to this is beyond me, I was seriously embarrassed for Eli Roth to have turned out this drivel. Still he made an absolute packet. A much better movie recently was The Devils Rejects by Rob Zombie, who is apparently remaking Halloween. It is an amazing movie and not what you will expect. Violence, gore, style and humour. Its the film QT should have been involved in.
i think the film wasnt as great as i expected, but what really scares the pants off me is the thought that them type of killings could actually happen in other countries. you never know......