Martyrs

Pascal Laugier
2008

This film's reputation certainly precedes it with stories of crew members revolting because of abuse towards it's lead actresses and over the top claims of graphic brutality and excessively disturbing content. Not since "Irreversible" (2002) do I remember a picture with such onus inflected buzz. While expecting the worst I actually found the picture to be quite watchable, and above that, pretty damn good. While fitting squarely into the dopily named "torture porn" genre "Martyrs" manages a more novel approach to it's theater of violence than other films of it's ilk. Beginning with a typical bourgeoisie family slaughtered in their home by a disturbed girl and her reluctant sidekick a battle between delusion and horrifying conspiracy is soon waged within the house's confines. While it's true the picture lays the violence on thick, particularly against women, Laugier makes the torment explicitly and purposely non-sexual. This conscious decision goes a long way to making the film more palatable, and in my opinion, more than a sensational exploitation stunt. Finally, the force behind the girls' suffering is far more worthwhile and clever than the hackneyed "unstoppable killer" routine. "Martyrs" is a welcome addition to the horror genre, and deserves to be judged on it's own merits.