Martyrs

Title: Martyrs
Rating: 4/5
Genre- Mystery-Horror
Starring: Mylène Jampanoï, Morjana Alaoui
Language: French

I have seen many horror films in my life, and I have seen many films that took it to the extreme, yet no film affected me as this one. Something in me felt… wrong while watching this, this I owe to three factors:

1. The direction and writing for this film, both done by "Pascal Laugier".
2. The great cast, who unlike in many of the new films that came out like "Hostel" 1&2, delivered an immense performance!
3. The grotesque makeup!

I shall talk about these separately. It should be noted also is that the film has a philosophical theme especially in existentialism, which is something I am really into. The basic plot can is in a way similar to Hostel's, but here this is the story of "Lucie" who escaped when she was a kid from the "torture house", is found and raised in an orphanage, bonds with "Anna", and years later revenge is hunted for.

"Laugier" brought a truly macabre work to the screen, which let films such as "Hostel", "Saw", their sequels, and many films on that path appear as child's play. He carefully, with the collaboration of the cast of course, brought something really disturbing. The torture and the killing scenes aren't as creative as the ones in the "Saw Series" for instance, but how and why they are represented to us makes us forget every other film we saw. When I saw "Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma" I never really thought something will affect me as it did, but I was. I chose not to elaborate more on the scenes that bothered me lest I spoil. No one will understand unless he/she watches this film.

Not always we encounter a film that greatly departs from being just "torture porn", to something with a good story line and has a deep meaning. That speech about the difference between "victims" and "martyrs" stirred something in me. Not to forget a brilliant showing how the psychology of guilt can affect people, and haunt them to their death. In general, regarding some plot holes, the script of the film is the most powerful element in it, and it is what elevated the film from many others I have seen. "Pascal Laugier" did a fine job indeed. Some might argue against the heavy bloodshed in this film, but I think that it's better this way to convey the film's themes in a superior manner.

"This is just a film" is what I said to myself while watching. Why? The make-up work is that disturbing and real! I saw "Hostel 2" this night and wasn't convinced. I never saw such a gruesome, yet accurate, representation of human tissue taken to the extremes as I did with this film. There is a certain view near the end, I won't spoil, that was just a piece of macabre art!

My main objection to this film is some plot irregularities, which I don't think are logical. They didn't ruin the picture to me, but I think that they could have been dealt with better in the writing of this film. Overall I don't think we'll be annoyed much.

This should be the criteria which future horror films, of this style, should look up to. It might not be good to those who are strangers to this style, but definitely recommended to those who are. I heard there's going to be an American remake, I hope they don't ruin it and make it look cheap like many of the remakes done. If you have the nerve, watch it!