Review: ‘Martyrs’

If you are a horror or a genre fan hooked into the internet, you have more than likely heard about this film.   I believe a lot of the buzz about the film began with it’s screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.   The majority of the reaction I have heard prior to viewing the film has been positive and it sounded like another horrific home run out of France.   However, this is where we run into a problem.   Do not go into ‘Martyrs’ expecting another ‘À l’intà ©rieur (Inside)’, you will not get it.

The  film starts with our main character Lucie as a young girl who has been discovered on the side of the road showing signs of repeated physical abuse.   The police are unable to receive any info from Lucie due to her traumatic state.   Lucie is then put into an institution for young children where she meets and befriends Anna.   We are later shown a scene at night where Lucie is calling out to her newfound friend but is unable to awake her.   Instead, Lucie is confronted by a creature covered by shadows.   We don’t get a real good look at this creature, but you can tell it is not human.

The film advances 15 years later and…..  Well, I can’t tell you what happens after that.   Why?   I believe that everyone that sees ‘Martyrs’ needs to go in not knowing what to expect.   For anyone to tell you what happens after this point will lessen the impact.   What I will say is that the first half unfolds like a stylish foreign horror film.   It delivers in a very shocking scene that comes out of nowhere, right when you are starting to question where the director is heading.   The second half is either where it will lose or anger the audience.   If you are unaffected by this second half, let me know so I can avoid your presence.   This might sound good so far but for this viewer, this is where the film falls apart.

While I commend ‘Martyrs’ on trying to bring something new to the table, it seems like an exaggeration on themes that have already been addressed and feel stale.   The last half is unflinching and might even make you look in the mirror and ask why you might like the other extreme French horror films like ‘Haute Tension (High Tension)’ and ‘À l’intà ©rieur (Inside)’.

The main problem I had with ‘Martyrs’ is the drastic change in tone and the dissonant feel with it’s first and second half.   It sets you up in normal territory with a slight twist and then ends up being something you probably didn’t sign up for.   For that, some people will enjoy that aspect and some people will dislike it.

While ‘Martyrs’ is very clunky in it’s plot logistics and essentially  poses more questions than answers. With that said, ‘Martyrs’ is hard to shake after the initial viewing.   It will burn into your memory, but it is also a film that you really need to chew on before you speak your mind.   It is not a film I plan on watching again, but it is possible.

[Overall: 3.5 out of 5 – Rent if you DARE!]

‘Martyrs’ will be available on DVD via Dimension Extreme in the US on April 28, 2009.   However, it is available in Canada as of March 24, 2009 via Paradox Home Entertainment.