Martyrs is one of the creepiest, violent, and disturbing movies I've seen in a good while. It may just be that it plays on several fears of mine, but I found Martyrs to be one of the hardest movies for me to sit through. I think one of the most important aspects of the movie is it's abundance of violence and gore. Obviously it's not the only thing that makes the movie terrifying, but seeing such realistic depictions of cutting, beating, and mutilation really leave one hell of an impact. The plot of Martyrs may not be the best, but the way it's told is enough that while watching the movie, it feels like a much better story than if someone were to sit down and explain it. More than half the movie has no dialogue whatsoever for up to 10 minutes at a time, which allows the viewer to interpret most of it however they want. I can't really comment on the acting as it's a foreign film, but I can say that the music and sound design are absolutely perfect even if some of the cinematography leaves something to be desired at times. Fans of horror are probably going to enjoy Martyrs, but I would have a really hard time recommending it to anyone outside of that demographic.

Just incredibly cruel and bloody film with a more or less suitable storyline, which is not recommended to look at people in general because of the fact that during the viewing can become crap.

Few movies have affected me the way this movie did. Sure, it is gory, brutal, violent, and very disturbing. But unlike so many other movies it is not there for chock value, but rather to show the awful journey of the protagonist, from bad to worse. As strange as it may sound, it brings depth to the story and even more so to the characters. Yes, it is slightly depressing, but in all its dark cruelty there is beauty, which balances the horror. When watching it the first time, it came to a point where it was almost too much cruelty, but then the end came, and made it all worth it. So if you've got a strong stomach, and want to see a movie that will remain with you for a long time, then watch this masterpiece. And watch it through. It'll be worth it.

I must start by saying this is not a movie for the faint-hearted. Also I believe there are a lot of good reviews of this film out there that should be read. Shocking, disturbing, brutal...those are just a few words that can describe this movie. What a human being can do for revenge, or just to find answers is unbelievable. I always ask myself how an actor could play so good in a movie where emotions are taken on a different kind of level. This is a movie that makes you feel disgusted with the world and ashamed of what humans can do to each other. It is a horror film that even for gorehounds the stomach may go nuts. A lot of people are making jokes when watching a horror film, trying to make it easier to watch. The moment Anna gets captured nobody can laugh anymore, it is intense and brutal. A normal person could not even think of making a joke at that moment. This movie depicts what human nature is capable of and makes it sad. The movie starts with a horror story and then walks into another one, over and over again. The actors did an amazing job, made it feel a lot more realistic with genuine emotions. Morjana Alaoui pulls in a heart wrenching performance. This is another reason why this movie is so good. I read that a lot of people were repulsed by the second part of the movie and it is understandable, but then again, it is just a movie (clearly not made for those with a weak heart). I still don't understand the world we live in, but I think these are realistic events converted in a fictional environment. The ending went into a direction I was not expecting. Like all horror films, the main character is either saved, either killed. But in this one the director gave a more profound meaning to the whole film. He left us surrounded by mystery and everyone can have their own interpretation. It is original, unlike a significant number of modern horror movies. Again, foreign films shows us that they are way better than Hollywood films.