Martyrs

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Martyrs

June 23rd 2009 02:13

Supposedly the word “martyr” is derived from the Latin word for “witness”. They are those rare humans that suffer agonizing pain, but will not be broken, finally seeing beyond death into the mysterious void. Does it exist? Only the martyrs know, but none have ever survived to actually relate their experience, their vision.

Until now.

Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs (2008), a French/French-Canadian co-production, is a brutal assault on the senses that presents a very dark quest for the perverted uber-wealthy. In some ways the movie is similar to elements of Eli Roth’s Hostel: Part II (2007), both portray a terrible underworld where money and power can let you indulge in your most depraved desires, where victims become pieces of ragged art to an agenda of a truly dark design.

Young Lucie (Jessie Pham) escapes

A young adolescent Lucie (Jessie Pham) has managed to escape some kind of dreadful incarceration (a derelict industrial warehouse), where she has been held prisoner and tortured for Gods knows how long. At the rehabilitation centre she is befriended by young Anna (Erika Scott), another victim of child abuse. Neither of them were sexually abused, but Lucie’s captors have remained a mystery. In the room she shares with Anna Lucie is visited upon by a silhouetted female demon figure …

Morjana Alaoui as Anna

Fifteen years later after Lucie (Mylène Jampanoï) has been released she immediately sets about on her mission of revenge. Anna (Morjana Alaoui) has accompanied her, but doesn’t realise just how intent the psychologically unstable Lucie really is. Lucie arrives at the home of a husband and wife and their teenage son and daughter. Within minutes she has murdered them all with a shotgun. The house is a bloodied mess. Anna, in shock, attempts to dispose of the bodies, not believing that the adult couple was responsible for the crimes Lucie claims.

Mylene Jampanoi as adult Lucie

Lucie is visited again by her demon spectre; a screeching, mutilated, skeletal female that causes Lucie to commit grievous bodily harm on herself with a blade. Anna tries to intervene and save Lucie. Later Lucie discovers a secret passageway in the house leading to an elaborate underground dungeon. It is here that she discovers a female prisoner victim and realises Lucie was telling the truth. But Anna’s nightmare hasn’t even begun.

Anna and Lucie try and deal with the carnage

The prisoner (Emilie Miskdjian)

Martyrs is extremely well-made, which makes the movie incredibly compelling. The acting from the two leads is excellent, especially Jampanoï, the direction and editing are tight, and the production design is impressive. The special effects make-up are okay, but much of the violence is actually far-fetched. It is intensely brutal at times and the execution of it is powerful, but the consequences aren’t realistic. It’s a bone of contention I have when movies portray horrendous ultra-violence, but there's inconsistency. Some victims die plausibly while others manage to escape the kind of serious injuries or bloodletting that would realistically follow. For example, there is no way that such a tiny amount of blood would be released after Lucie slices her arms and throat open with a straight razor. There is no way Anna could survive the kind of facial beating she receives without her jaw being completely shattered.

Lucie's demon makes an appearance

These irritating elements aside, Martyrs still packs an extraordinary punch, with a real doozy near the end, just when you wonder how on earth the movie can wrap things up. That’s when the ugly truth rears its head and presents you with a startling and rather novel explanation. It’s far-fetched, but in a kind of “theological fantasy” mode it works. Hell, I’m an atheist, what do I know?

Catherine Begin as the diabolical Mademoiselle

Anna in chains

Martyrs has been polarising audiences since it was first released last year. It’s been called one of the most ferocious horror movie ever made. I’ve seen more disturbing movies, and I’ve seen far more graphic movies, but Martyrs does capture a very grim realm. There’s a section in the movie’s second half which deals with systematic physical abuse which is arguably the toughest part of the movie to deal with. The extreme horror revelation right near the end, while shocking, isn’t quite as outrageous as I thought it might be, but perhaps that’s because much of what’s come before was pummeling.

I’m making Martyrs sound like an altogether desperately grueling experience, and parts of it are very intense, but the detached presentation of the movie’s second half is masterfully constructed, while the movie’s first half is brilliantly ferocious and at times utterly harrowing. And the movie’s final scene is really rather satisfying, if I may be so bold.

The final stage

Martyrs proves quite solidly that in the last few years the best horror cinema is coming out of Europe and Scandinavia. Hollywood eats their bloody dust.

NB: The movie is dedicated to Dario Argento. Nice touch.

Here's the French teaser trailer:

Here's the French trailer (no subs, but it's more affecting that way):

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

29 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Natalina

June 23rd 2009 03:05

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Jeez, this sounds disturbing. But, I like to be confronted by a movie, so I'll give it a try. So I can take it from your description that there is a metaphysical element to the film. That appeals to me as well.

Have you seen the film Girl Next Door based on the book by Jack Ketchum? To me, that was a grueling and brutal movie that made me feel really icky, but I couldn't look away. If this movie is anything like that, I might think twice about it. That movie had some very great acting and intensely violent scenes that I can't even repeat here because they were so shocking to me.

Comment by Bryn

June 23rd 2009 04:56

Horrorphile

June 25th 2009 06:25

Horrorphile

I agree. To be honest, it wasn't quite the shocker I'd prepared myself for (but then I've seen some pretty shocking movies). I found the section where she's repeatedly beaten hard-going (not especially plausible, as I mentioned in my review, as she wouldn't really survive that kind of beating ... but then she is a martyr). The very end with Mademoiselle is very satisfying I found. I also found it interesting how the you think the character of Lucie will stay through til the end, well I thought she would, but the perspective abruptly shifts.

Comment by Natalina

June 25th 2009 10:43

June 29th 2009 01:01

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Is there still a Hellraiser remake in the works, even without this director? The original gave me nightmares forever. Some people think it's silly, but it really scared me! A friend gave me a puzzle box like the one in the movie, and I've never ever attempted to open it. Just not going to take the risk

Comment by JohnDoe

July 2nd 2009 20:26

Film & TV on DVD

I'm sold. This one is now also on the "list"...

They are remaking Hellraiser? Thought that fell through....I did read that American Werewolf is about to get the same sodomy and mutilation.

Comment by Bryn

July 2nd 2009 22:58

Horrorphile

Natalina, supposedly remake is still in the works, not sure who's at the helm though ... Wow, you have a Lament Configuration Box?! I WANT ONE!!!!

JD, yes, Landis sold out. I wonder how much he got for the rights? Fucker.

Comment by Natalina

July 3rd 2009 02:09

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

It's really pretty too!

Taunt....taunt...taunt...

Comment by Bryn

July 3rd 2009 02:20

Horrorphile

Don't play with fire ... the cenobites will get you!

Comment by Natalina

July 3rd 2009 21:24

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Bryn, even though I am well aware that the cenobites are fictional and not likely to come after me.... I still got a chill when you said that. Yikes!

Comment by Jason King

August 21st 2009 04:27

Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness

I just watched a copy of this a friend gave me and it is DISTURBING - completely differend second half to first half. Gave me some chills.

Comment by Bryn

August 21st 2009 04:33

Horrorphile

Yeah, it does do an about turn, I think I preferred the first half more, but I loved the very end.

Comment by Jason King

August 21st 2009 04:37

Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness

I agree - the first half was may more enjoyable - I was wondering if it was a short film or where it was going to go and then it became a twisted (more so if possible) version of Hostel (like you mentioned).

Comment by JohnDoe

October 19th 2009 19:22

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

Just saw Martyrs and was as impressed as you with how an outlandish premise is made plausible through deft cinema techniques. Even when you know whats going to happen its delivered with such commitment that it still has impact.

may review this one myself if i can find something new to say about it without spoilers.

Comment by Bryn

October 19th 2009 22:44

Horrorphile

JD, glad you liked it. We'll need to break it down further in real time conversation. I particularly liked the first half and the very ending.

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