Martyrs
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A young woman’s quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tortured her as a child leads her and her best friend, also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.
What critics thought
Martyrs split critics hard along two lines: those who saw its extreme violence as purposeless brutality dressed up in philosophical clothing, and those who found its religious and metaphysical ambitions genuinely earned by the suffering it depicts. The torture-porn label was the central battleground — defenders argued the film actively interrogates that label while detractors felt it merely exemplifies it. Even many admirers concede it leaves a residue of despair that lingers long after viewing.
“offers a few genuine scares early on, but they're quickly washed away by all the blood tossed around”
Jordan Mintzer·Variety
“a film of almost unspeakable horror and sadism [that] is also a cleverly controlled exercise in hardcore terror with a real end in mind”
John Griffin·Montreal Gazette
“eludes the 'torture porn' label precisely by questioning what those terms might mean, what appeal they might possibly have, and what questions – fundamental, even metaphysical questions – they might answer”
Anton Bitel·Eye For Film
“I hate this film. But is it a bad film? Not in the least. In fact, both characters are engaging, their predicament is exhilarating and fun to track, and the movie's got no trouble supporting its big twist.”
Matt Goldberg·Collider
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- moderate
- Profanity
- mild
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- severe
Genres
Horror, Drama, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Pascal LaugierDirector
Morjana AlaouiAnna Assaoui
Mylène JampanoïLucie Jurin
Catherine BéginMademoiselle
Robert ToupinFather
Patricia TulasneMother
Juliette GosselinMarie
Xavier DolanAntoine
Jean-Marie MonceletÉtienne
Nathalie Moliavko-VisotzkyCinematography
Bruno PhilipCinematographyMartyrs
A young woman’s quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tortured her as a child leads her and her best friend, also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.
What critics thought
Martyrs split critics hard along two lines: those who saw its extreme violence as purposeless brutality dressed up in philosophical clothing, and those who found its religious and metaphysical ambitions genuinely earned by the suffering it depicts. The torture-porn label was the central battleground — defenders argued the film actively interrogates that label while detractors felt it merely exemplifies it. Even many admirers concede it leaves a residue of despair that lingers long after viewing.
“offers a few genuine scares early on, but they're quickly washed away by all the blood tossed around”
Jordan Mintzer·Variety
“a film of almost unspeakable horror and sadism [that] is also a cleverly controlled exercise in hardcore terror with a real end in mind”
John Griffin·Montreal Gazette
“eludes the 'torture porn' label precisely by questioning what those terms might mean, what appeal they might possibly have, and what questions – fundamental, even metaphysical questions – they might answer”
Anton Bitel·Eye For Film
“I hate this film. But is it a bad film? Not in the least. In fact, both characters are engaging, their predicament is exhilarating and fun to track, and the movie's got no trouble supporting its big twist.”
Matt Goldberg·Collider
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- moderate
- Profanity
- mild
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- severe
Genres
Horror, Drama, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Pascal LaugierDirectorMorjana AlaouiAnna AssaouiMylène JampanoïLucie JurinCatherine BéginMademoiselleRobert ToupinFatherPatricia TulasneMotherJuliette GosselinMarieXavier DolanAntoineJean-Marie MonceletÉtienneNathalie Moliavko-VisotzkyCinematographyBruno PhilipCinematographyStream
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