Martyrs (2008)

Martyrs: Directed by Pascal Laugier. With Morjana Alaoui, Mylène Jampanoï, Catherine Bégin, Robert Toupin. A young woman’s quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.

“The film was introduced by the filmu0026#39;s writer director Pascal Laugier at this yearu0026#39;s Frightfest in London. The organiseru0026#39;s referred to the film as u0026quot;The film they most wantedu0026quot; of the 28 shown at the festival. It was easy to see why. Of all the films I saw at this yearu0026#39;s Frightfest, Martyrs was not my favourite but without a doubt it is the one that plays on my mind the most. The film has been compared to both Hostel and Hellraiser but I think it has a lot more substance than both of those films. The central performances are top notch and Jessie Pham as the young Lucie is very convincing, completely holding your attention. So why only 7 out of 10? As well made as this film is, the subject matter is just so utterly disturbing I wanted this film to end a long time before it actually did. It is not a film that is to be enjoyed. It is not the escapism that you may be looking for. The first Act is a revenge story on a family who may or may not have been responsible for the kidnapping and torture of a young girl 15 years previously. It is the second Act though that is the more disturbing. The viewer wants it to end almost as much as the girl captured wants her ordeal to end. This is a must-see movie but certainly one that is going to divide audiences right down the middle.”