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Martyrs

Play trailer Poster for Martyrs R 2008 1h 39m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A young woman's quest for revenge leads her down a path of depravity.
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Martyrs

Martyrs

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Critics Consensus

A real polarising movie, this Gallic torture-porn is graphic, brutal, nasty and gruesome and not to everyone's taste.

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Critics Reviews

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Scott Tobias AV Club Martyrs is something of a horror milestone-a dire one to some, but a movie to be reckoned with all the same. Oct 19, 2018 Full Review Simon Abrams Slant Magazine Martyrs has an intelligence and a dogged determination to do and to say what its predecessors could or would not. Oct 19, 2018 Full Review Anton Bitel Little White Lies it turns out to be concerned precisely with the nature and reception of extremity, posing uncomfortable questions about what it is that one really seeks in choosing to 'witness' scenes of horrific human abjection. Dec 1, 2010 Full Review Akos Peterbencze The Screen In the dedicated execution of its vision — prepared to go beyond every boundary that there is — Martyrs is an unlikely masterpiece of horror if one that's extremely difficult to praise sincerely. Sep 10, 2023 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast One of the most powerfully affecting horror films you'll ever see. Just don't be surprised if you walk away feeling empty inside. Rated: 5/5 Dec 30, 2020 Full Review Keri O'Shea Warped Perspective Films at their best - and worst - continue to have tremendous power, and Martyrs is absolutely a film which encapsulates this. Jul 30, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Evan B amazing movie, not for the weak Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/25 Full Review Will M Very disturbing and engaging. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/31/25 Full Review Petra V At the start, I expected this film to be a deeply disturbing piece exploring serious real-world themes. However, as the story unfolded, it became increasingly apparent that the characters often behaved irrationally, with decisions that were difficult to justify — even within the boundaries of the horror genre. The protagonist, though understandably shaped by past trauma, embarks on a series of actions that defy logic. Her drive for revenge is somewhat understandable, but the choice to remain in the house after committing a murder — especially with her friend — feels implausible and reckless. What follows is even more baffling: after her friend’s suicide, Ana chooses to stay in the house rather than seek help or escape. The situation becomes especially unrealistic when she discovers a tortured woman in the basement and decides, instead of contacting the authorities, to free and "help" her on her own — as if someone subjected to such prolonged abuse could simply return to normal life. The introduction of the secret organization adds a layer of philosophical abstraction that feels forced and, at times, absurd. Their rationale for inflicting suffering lacks depth and credibility. Ana, despite being the central character in the latter half of the film, remains largely silent and passive, making it difficult for the audience to emotionally engage with her or understand her inner world. The film ultimately concludes without providing resolution — most notably, by withholding what Ana whispered to the organization’s leader. This decision feels less like an invitation to reflect, and more like a missed opportunity to deliver a meaningful or satisfying ending. Instead of provoking thought, the silence leaves a sense of incompletion and frustration. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Tanner T Go in blind. Be somebody. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/25/25 Full Review Lloyd S Not impressed. Boring movie about a mental illness. Wasn't even scary. Disappointed. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Timothy L IMO, although gory and graphic, I struggled to finish watching in its entirety because I felt it was boring. It took me four days to complete my viewing because my expectations were of something that would be horrifyingly nightmarish! Instead it turned out to be just an experience in torture and victimization with an incomplete outcome. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Martyrs

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Movie Info

Synopsis A young woman's quest for revenge leads her down a path of depravity.
Director
Pascal Laugier
Producer
Richard Grandpierre, Simon Trottier
Screenwriter
Pascal Laugier
Rating
R (Disturbing Aberrant Behavior|Child Abuse|Torture|Severe Aberrant Behavior|Some Nudity|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre
Horror
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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