Martyrs is one of those movies that are considered so controversial and I don’t quite understand why. Maybe that’s because I’m not fazed by anything. After watching 2008′s Deadgirl, I think I’ve plumbed the depths of exploitation that a film can indulge in (and I liked the movie). Lots of people emphasize the “gore” aspect of Martyrs for some reason, but I really don’t think the movie is that bloody, the gore isn’t even as extreme as in many mainstream movies.
This movie is a little tricky. It takes huge, drastic, nearly schizophrenic turns in plot; what’s kind of odd is that it’s sort of about three entirely different things, and sectioned into different parts. It tells the story of Lucie, the main character (during the first part of the film), who as a young girl was kidnapped and horribly abused and tortured by this married couple and escaped, permanently traumatized. She carries a sort of “ghost” around, a vicious feral woman that Lucie perceives as physically attacking her in rage, and for a while it’s hard to tell what this ghost really is, to figure out the reality. (Initially I thought that she might be the grown-up “ghost” of the little girl who was locked up and abused in that basement, that it was who Lucie would have been if she hadn’t in reality escaped; I don’t know if that makes any sense, though).
So the first part, the first path the movie takes, is about trauma and revenge against a couple of psychopathic serial killers. In the second part, the truth about the ghost woman is revealed, and the movie takes on more of a theme of psychosis, and doubt about what’s right and wrong. The rest of the movie focuses on Anna, Lucie’s best friend. Without giving too much away, the third part is about people who try to create “martyrs” in the modern age: martyr in the sense of a witness to another plane of being, not someone who sacrifices their life for their beliefs. But what happens is very specific (almost science-fiction-y), and the premise is sort of silly and ridiculous. So the plot shifts completely from the beginning to the end. And it’s not quite like anything I’ve ever seen before. As a character says in the movie, “It’s so easy to create a victim” (but not a martyr).
The opening scene of the movie I absolutely loved, and it reminded me a little of The Orphanage (which is a great horror movie). It consists of old-fashioned video clips of Lucie and Anna at the orphanage where they grew up. It shows how deeply traumatized Lucie is by the events that happened, and how Anna sort of opens her heart to the vulnerability she sees in the other girl and longs to take care of her. How they become best friends. Sadly, the rest of the movie isn’t nearly consistently as good as the beginning.
Lucie is played by the gorgeous Mylene Jampanoi (made up to look really tired and worn-out). She is captivating, with the most intense eyes, and her performance is so visceral and seemingly natural. Anna is played by Morjana Alaoui, who gives a great performance as well. That’s one of the good points about Martyrs: the really intense, visceral quality of the characters, how they sort of throw their bodies around and express their emotions so powerfully. I quite liked the first part of the movie.
I can’t really say that I don’t like the latter half of the movie, however; no, it doesn’t quite work, and it’s really pretty silly and weird, but it’s still interesting. There’s something about it that captures the attention, and the whole movie is visually interesting.
Anyway, for both those who are looking for a thrill, over-the-top horror, and who want something more interesting/intellectual/artistic in a horror movie, you’ll probably get something from Martyrs. It’s definitely memorable, at least. I can’t deny liking it quite a lot. It’s just one of those movies that stick with me, even if it’s imperfect.
7 out of 10…ish.
