Martyrs

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/a...1&d=1239547150

I just saw this movie, and firstly, let me say that not even the most knowledgeable fans of the horror genre have seen another movie like this. Honestly, I don't think there's a way to describe this movie without it being spoiled, so I'll just say that while I can't guarantee that you'll enjoy it, this movie really attempts to push the boundaries of the genre and you should all go see it asap.

On a technical level, this movie is fantastic. Visually speaking, the gore is great, up to par with all of French horrors offerings. Its very well shot, the camera movements are often indicative of whats going on, and being almost entirely shot hand held there's a certain liveliness to it. Despite this, even in the most intense scenes they keep the shaky cam to a tasteful level. The acting is also very good, but by far the movies strongest asset on a technical level is the sound design. The score is really good and the foley is utterly superb.

It's coming out on dvd at the end of this month, and I highly recommend giving it a view.


SPOILERS - FOR SERIOUS, DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN THE FILM

I don't even know if I enjoyed this movie or not yet, but I really applaud the attempt at the very least. It definitely left its mark in my head. I came into this expecting a shallow yet well crafted gore fest, so the second half really took me by surprise. I think it might be the first movie to feature brutal torture without it being exploitative or gratuitous. I was really worried at first that it would be a French take on J horror, but i'm glad they steered it away from that direction.

How did you interpret the ending? Personally I think that the old woman either found out that there was no afterlife or was left unsatisfied with the answer, and came to the realization that the decades of torture were ultimately for nothing, so she offed herself.

I've been waiting for this for a while now...about time the DVD is about to come out! Martyrs is also ALREADY on the calendar to have a U.S. remake.

Have you seen the directors first movie, Saint Ange (House of Voices in the U.S.)? Martyrs is his second movie. SA is a bit of a slow burn, but I'd recommend at least a viewing.

Also, the director is the one who's been tapped to do the remake of Hellraiser.

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Originally Posted by Deus13

Also, the director is the one who's been tapped to do the remake of Hellraiser.

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wtf? but why?

and btw...im ready to watch martyrs and there are no subs :(, got the wrong one...

There is a solid quality streaming version with english subtitles. I watched the first 30 or so min this morning and it was really damn good. I'm looking forward to watching the rest later on tonight.

The subtitles in the copy I watched had some typos and occasional translation issues (froglish?) which was kind of distracting at times, but not to the point where it ruined the film thankfully.

If there has to be a remake of Hellraiser, this director is a good choice. Once you've seen the film you'll understand why.

If I had issues with Inside, will I have issues with this?

I would say no because i think it was the subject matter that made inside so affective for you. Still, this movie is no stroll in the park and is a hard watch for most people. I'd give it a go.

Awesome. I'll come steal it off you.

Definitely watch it, it's really really good. Lately it's been tough to find a movie that has gripped me from beginning to end, and this really had me at the edge of my seat. It's really a draining movie to watch because of the way it was filmed, almost to the point of at the end "oh thank god it's over". Yet at the end I almost wanted to watch it again.

Highly recommended. Great find arjue, I haven't been grabbed by a movie like this one did in a long time.

I'm really glad you liked it Brand, it seems to be polarizing people, some saying as much as that its the next Texas Chainsaw Massacre while others write it off as pure torture porn trash. Personally i don't think I've seen a film that justified such horrendous violence as well as this one does and it definitely deserves a spot on the horror mantle (though calling it the next TCM is a stretch imo). Really, genre aside, its just a very well made and well realized film.

SPOILERS

Man, the turning point at the middle of the film completely took me by surprise. I think keeping the violence simple and repetitive made it much more affective. Her puffy, bruised, knee'd in face was so well done, they could have gone to town on it with blood and teeth everywhere but the restraint on behalf of the make up artists really upped the realism. The skinned body looked amazing too. Funnily enough i think the sound of the spoon jabbing her teeth was probably the thing that got to me the most. The sound design was so good.

Honestly, I don't think this fits the bill for an American remake, it is so far away from hollywood sensibilities. I bet they ruin it by making the torture come from elaborate Saw like devices as opposed to a big french fuck who simply bashes the living shit out of the victims.

Compared to the best America has to offer in the last few years, France is really doing its part to save the horror genre. I'm just so glad that somewhere there's an emerging scene of talented movie makers making mostly great horror films. Can you believe that Martyrs had a budget of only $6m?