One of the most controversial films in recent years, and for good reason, Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs is almost two films in one. Split into two separate stories, but linked together through the main theme. It’s a real game changer, genuinely, and a film that will truly shock and disturb you. French horrors are known for their shock value and gore, providing us with some of the most unique titles. In part this helps due to the lack of restrictions they face compared to US horrors – which generally fail when competing against more edgy and gruesome European films.
When a young girl escapes from her captors, the events she’s been through are left with her, tormenting her throughout her life. Now all grown up, the little girl, Lucie (Mylene Jampanoi) takes revenge on the family she believes to be behind her traumatic event. She enlists the help of her friend Anna (Morjana Alaoui), a girl whom she made a connection with during her time in a care home once she was rescued. Anna is conflicted by wanting to help her friend but terrified of the terrible acts she’s committing. But while she’s in the house of the family Lucie has targeted, Anna discovers something much more disturbing, and something that puts her right in harms way.
From the moment you see a battered girl running through the streets screaming you know you’re in for something quite shocking and intense. The audience, like Anna, are constantly at odds with what they believe. Is Lucie really being haunted by some sort of monster, or is it all in her head? Is the family she slaughtered in a horrific way really the people who tortured her as a child, or does she just want it to be them, to be able to punish someone and get some revenge and ultimately closure. What happens once Lucie slaughters the family is something you cannot quite envision, no matter what you hear about Martyrs you couldn’t believe it until you see it as Anna goes through, quite frankly, living hell on earth, with an endless tirade of suffering and abuse. And what all comes from this is a thought-provoking ending which has divided fans of the film when it come to the interpretation of the final moments – one which I won’t go into as it would leave a major spoiler.
Martyrs is genuinely the only film that has made me have to pause the film to take a breathe, to walk away from the screen and compose myself, such is the nature of some of the horrific scenes that go on. Packed with both heart and gut wrenching scenes, Martyrs isn’t for the faint hearted. It’ll mess with your heart and head simultaneously as you never stop rooting for Anna. This is a title which continues the French extremity movement, it is truly brutal and downright nasty at times but unlike other films, with Martyrs it’s there for a reason, a story which really utilizes this brutal style of filmmaking. Through her endless suffering you’re always on Anna’s side, cheering her on to come through her real life horror story and escape. It’s a true testament to the film to keep us so engaged and invested in this character and her utterly hopeless situation.
With an American remake (headed by the producers of Twilight) in the works, you just can’t help but feel this is another original that will be tainted by the hands of Hollywood, like the case of so many fantastic European and Asian films.
Rating: Martyrs takes the word ‘controversial’ to a whole new level (8/10).
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