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Reviews
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
I had to shut this one off
I've been a horror buff for as long as I can remember and have seen many films considered highly disturbing, with not too many having a great effect on me. Martyrs, Irreversible and In a Glass Cage are probably the most disturbing I've seen, but not unwatchable. In this case, I had to shut the film off because I simply couldn't take it.
I don't have an issue with watching people get killed on screen but once animal cruelty is involved, that's a bit too much. Especially considered there were animals really killed on screen for this endurance test of a movie. I didn't even make it to the turtle scene as it became too much for me before that.
Coming from a seasoned horror buff, I wouldn't recommend this one unless you have an iron stomach, and are comfortable with horrific animal abuse, which I'm not.
Martyrs (2008)
This is the type of film that does the horror genre justice
I have a pretty strong stomach and have seen lots of films that others have described as disturbing. Most of them I felt fell short of the mark or made too much of an effort to be exploitative to be taken seriously. This is not one of those films. Three years after watching it for the first time, I still feel affected by it while most movies I forget about after a week. There are a few things in particular that made it stand out to me.
Too many "horror" films rely on an abrasive soundtrack and over the top jump scares to get your intention. But with Martyrs, the atmosphere is unsettling without resorting to that very often, and the plot is truly haunting on its own. As other users have pointed out, "torture porn" is not an accurate way to describe this by any means. It is well written, draws on themes that are hauntingly familiar, and the violence and depravity serves a purpose. Movies like hostel don't provide any sort of thought provoking message, and merely attempt to shock the viewer with its excess. Martyrs, on the other hand, really wants you to think about the concepts it portrays and it does a phenomenal job in doing so.
A lot of people seem to go into horror movies without actually wanting to get uncomfortable and question things. It irritates me to see people bashing the film just because they couldn't handle it. Those who believe the kind of stuff portrayed here doesn't happen in real life have been living under a rock and can't stomach that aspect of reality. When you think about the countless prisoners of war that have been subjected to god knows what, and the number of children that go missing each year in the US alone, it really makes this movie get under your skin all the more.
I give Martyrs 10/10 because it makes you think in a way that very few horror films are able to. I recommend it to anyone with an open mind who isn't afraid to examine the darker side of humanity.
Gutterbug (2019)
Beautifully crafted, painful to watch
I found this underrated gem on Amazon yesterday and felt compelled to write a review. Not often do I find films that hit so close to home and this was one of them. Although excruciating to watch at times, it was an incredibly rewarding experience that serves as a much needed commentary on an underbelly most never see.
As someone who's been homeless, in jail, and committed to psych wards as a result of mental illness, many scenes felt painfully familiar. It felt like I was reliving traumatic experiences of my own throughout and at times I struggled to finish it. The acting was extremely realistic and really took you into the gritty and bleak world of the characters, which I know all to well.
I recommend this to anyone who has a family member that's been homeless and struggles with mental health/addiction, as it will give you a glimpse into the terrible roller coaster ride they go through. While many have compassion for people in these types of situations, far fewer really understand it.