The first French genre film ever to be hit with a 18+ rating in its native France (the decision was appealed and the certification was eventually lowered to 16+), controversy surrounded Pascal Laugier’s deeply disturbing shocker from the outset. Indeed, having shocked, wowed, appalled and traumatised audiences since its debut at Cannes last summer, Martyrs quickly gained notoriety and is without a doubt the most talked about horror movie of the last 12 months.
The film opens with Lucie, a battered, bruised and deeply traumatised 10-year-old girl, fleeing from an unknown location. We soon learn that Lucie was kidnapped, imprisoned and subjected to mental and physical torture for reasons unknown. 15 years later, Lucie believes that she has finally discovered the identity of her captors, and with the help of her closest friend, Anna, decides to wreak bloody vengeance on those she believes to be responsible for her trauma. However, a cruel twist of fate puts both Lucie and Anna in extreme danger, and for the two childhood friends, the nightmare has only just begun.
Laugier’s movie is part arthouse indictment of a troubled modern society and part blood-soaked revenge flick. Playing out in three acts, the film starts off as one movie and ends as another, beginning as a dizzying, intense tale of violent retribution before descending into something far more depressing and far more unsettling during its final act. With stomach-churning violence, an unnerving atmosphere and a balls-achingly, jaw-dropping conclusion, Martyrs certainly isn’t for the feint of heart, but for those with a penchant for horror of the hardcore kind, this is essential viewing.
The DVD includes an excellent 85-minute documentary, which takes you through numerous stages of production, from the marketing aspects of the film’s poster to the filming of a few key scenes. There’s plenty of interview input from Laugier and the rest of the crew, while bizarrely, it’s almost a relief to see the actresses smiling and laughing after witnessing their ordeal in the main feature!
The Pascal Laugier interview runs for about 20 minutes and sees the writer/director chatting about the usual topics, from writing and filming the script to the casting of its two leading ladies, while the interview with the make-up effects guy, Benoit Lestang, spends about 13 minutes going over the various problems and obstacles regarding the film’s more gruesome aspects.
Overall Verdict:
A depressing, nauseating and profoundly disturbing experience, and hardcore horror at its most powerful.
Special Features:
‘Making Of’ Documentary
Pascal Laugier Interview
Benoit Lestang Interview
Reviewer: Lee Griffiths