Martyrs

I wonder why so many compare this to movies like "hostel"...

There was only one movie coming up my mind after having seen this one: Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" (and other works from him...)

Other comparisons? OK, let's compare this to "high tension"... yes, we get realism. but then? There are too many movies recently that do nothing but hide their lack of spirit and story... in the end the audience is left alone without a believable motivation for what happened...

"Martyrs" is different. It's scary and disturbing. It's painful to watch and still there is some kind of relief. You may separate that movie into three segments... and the first two would make a whole movie on their own. What happens then takes the story to whole new level and the audience to a whole new perspective. With a cynical bang in the end.

I liked it.

...when there's a movie you've seen 10y ago and is constantly brought to memory, that's gotta mean something.

Anyone who sees it doesn't forget it. It sticks.

The pure rawness, the neverending pit of darkness when you're just hoping for a little light so you can breathe - not to spoil it - but it doesn't come.

Great acting, ok photography and editing, but your eyes will be halfway shut from the tension it causes, so no need to go over the head with special effects and cinematography. Just a very good movie where acting and suspense is just perfect.

Although I've seen it more than a decade ago, came across the poster in IMDB and still felt compeled to write a review. That's how much it sticks.

Martyrs is probably the most extreme movie ever made in France, and cannot be compared with any other flick I have seen before.

It was a unique and traumatic experiment to watch it in a theater where half of the audience left before the end, while the other half was feeling very uncomfortable. It is NOT for everybody, and you can really be upset at times, even if you are a basic horror fan as I am.

This movie is not made to please the audience, especially the second part, except if you are seriously disturbed. I couldn't help thinking about The Screwfly Solution that Joe Dante made in reaction of all the gratuitous violence made to women in horror movies.

Fortunately, the end of the movie gives enough meaning to what you have been through, watch the whole thing if you can.

I gave a 7 because it's not a movie that you can really like or recommend to your friends, but I think it's a real milestone in horror, like Texas Chainsaw Massacre was in his time.

This film is without a doubt the most horrific, disgusting kick to the senses I've ever seen. If you can sit and watch the whole film from beginning to end you will feel like you've been in an accident. This shouldn't be even classed as just a horror film it should have an entirely new classification. I seriously doubt that any film maker could ever surpass this film for pure nastiness without showing real life carnage for 2 hours. If you want to be able sleep after watching a film, don't watch this. I honestly wish I never watched it, not that it is't well made or well written, I just think that it goes to far down a vicious path.

The film was introduced by the film's writer director Pascal Laugier at this year's Frightfest in London. The organiser's referred to the film as "The film they most wanted" of the 28 shown at the festival. It was easy to see why. Of all the films I saw at this year's Frightfest, Martyrs was not my favourite but without a doubt it is the one that plays on my mind the most. The film has been compared to both Hostel and Hellraiser but I think it has a lot more substance than both of those films. The central performances are top notch and Jessie Pham as the young Lucie is very convincing, completely holding your attention. So why only 7 out of 10? As well made as this film is, the subject matter is just so utterly disturbing I wanted this film to end a long time before it actually did. It is not a film that is to be enjoyed. It is not the escapism that you may be looking for. The first Act is a revenge story on a family who may or may not have been responsible for the kidnapping and torture of a young girl 15 years previously. It is the second Act though that is the more disturbing. The viewer wants it to end almost as much as the girl captured wants her ordeal to end. This is a must-see movie but certainly one that is going to divide audiences right down the middle.