Martyrs

This is not a horror movie. Its a harrowing study into the depths of human depravity. There is absolutely NOTHING to compare it to!

The story is deep, horrific and heart breaking.

You may wish you had not watched it, and the film will haunt your mind and heart for weeks/months/years.

It must also be mentioned that the acting, all around, is absolutely superb, as is the screenplay and cinematography.

Should be an essential subject of study for any aspiring film makers.

There can never be another ''Martyres''.. Impossible.

Don't listen to the poor reviews on here - this is actually a masterpiece in horror but it's very difficult to watch.. It's dark. bleak and incredibly disturbing and despite this being one of the best films I've seen I could never watch it again..

...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.

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.

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.