(2008)
I foolishly threw this on at a friend's place, late night on Friday and within 10 minutes an entire roomful of people ran for the door, explaining they suddenly had somewhere to be. Martyrs is brutal and relentless and it's not for everybody. (I don't even want to live in a world where DCD watches it.) I was able to give it a proper viewing the next day with a couple of my (sicko) friends and we were stunned into submission.
I'm going to try and refrain from using superlatives in this review but it's difficult because Martyrs is exceptional. I understand why Catfreeek decided to describe how it made her feel rather than address the content. Both the graphic images and the subject matter linger and haunt long after viewing it. Some (myself included) have indicated that they're "over" torture porn movies so it's fair to ask why watch another? What sets this apart from the Hostel & Saw films?
The first portion of the film centers around Lucie, who narrowly escaped from an abattoir where she was tortured fifteen years prior. After discovering the whereabouts of her attackers she enters a typical suburban family's home wielding a shotgun and she coldly executes them all. This scene is extremely painful to watch. As it unfolds, the details surrounding her childhood incarceration begin to be revealed. But even after exacting her revenge, she is still terrorized (not to mention stabbed and slashed within an inch of her life) by a ghost from the past. Is she hallucinating? Or is there something far more sinister at work? I hate pulling the "to reveal anything else is a disservice to the film" card but that's precisely what I'm going to do.*
Both the horror and the mystery of Martyrs took me out of my comfort zone and never let me back in. Every time I felt I knew where things were headed the plot shifted, always shockingly, in increasingly provocative directions. The ideas are philosophical and engaging. The violence is always necessary but never gratuitous. The gore is realistic and upsetting. And the motives behind the suffering are perhaps the most appalling aspect of all. Please hurry up and watch this because all I want to do is talk about it to anyone who will listen!
* No I don't, I love playing that card
11 comments:
Hmmm. Very interesting review. I may just have to do as you suggest.
I'm fairly certain Martyrs will be making some serious noise on the '09 roundup lists. Honestly it's one of the best, most potent horror movies I've ever seen.
Sigh, they're making an American version. I suppose I can look forward to the compare/contrast in future 'thons.
You had me at 5 stars. I skipped your review because I know you've been talking this film up like crazy and I don't want to spoil it for myself (my terrible memory has already made me forget Cat's earlier review). I fast-tracked it to the top of my Netflix and I should be getting it tomorow.
Horrorthon!
After talking with you about this film I bumped my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I originally had given it 4 1/2 because I just couldn't muster a full 5 star rating on a movie that made me feel so wrong for having watched it. But You are right it deserves all that and more.
I loved your review but I almost wish you hadn't mentioned the family slaughter. It hit me unexpected and shockingly. Then again, knowing or not it's still painful to watch.
I hope more of you watch it, it needs a big discussion. I would love to read a Jordan review.
sorry, i think you guys know i can't watch this one yet! maybe i'll be sufficiently desensitized after about 10 more 'thons.
I'm actually nervous about the possibility of watching this movie - amazing that yours and Cat's review could cause this.
I'm watching it right now! Oh, not really. I just felt a little wimpish after being called out by JSP for being, well, a wimp.
Sounds horrific. Reading about it is enough for me!
I was just whoring around the Netflix reviews and most peopled really love it. There's also a smattering of angry reviews. I resent it when someone labels fans of these kinds of movies "sick". The people I know who "like" these movies - Octo, JPX, 50P, Catreeek and myself are (for the most part) well adjusted and (mostly) down to earth who wouldn't (likely) hurt a fly.
Soooooooooo.. anyone else watch this yet?
Also - the joy of watching horror movies comes from desire to be scared. Martyrs hit me at the most gutteral, primal level imaginable. What's the point of watching a scary movie if it's not scary?
Ditto JSP. This film is still with me and I watched it at the beginning of the month.
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