Review of Martyrs (2008) by Alexander G — 30 Aug 2011

**SPOILERS**This movie is unlike any other I have saw, and I just saw 'A Serbian Film,' last night. Yes there is gore, torture, violence but it's done well. Granted, I feel this movie made an intellectual copout, especially when the leader kills herself at the end of the movie.

I approached the movie like this, Lucy kills the family who tortured her, Anna doesn't believe her and tries to save the mother, Lucy kills mother, Anna finds out Lucy was telling the truth while saving another victim.

Victim is shot, the cult I assume capture Anna and torture her the same way the torture all the others. The purpose, to receive a look, to be witness to 'the other world,' this is achieved after Anna is skinned alive and a while before she learns to let go.

She whispers her experience into the leaders ear which causes her to kill herself. I believe the ending can either be a) its so grand she wants to go or b) realized she just made another victim. However, I think for a film which has done so much exploring behind the meaning of suffering and the chance of happiness, a believe the film fails at it's 'final stage,' to make me feel their research was really worth all of the pain experienced by Anna.

"Keep doubting," the final words by the leader made me doubt this film. Granted its a lot, a lot better than a hostel or saw message that is lost in it's gore, I feel empty when it comes to the question of suffering, its meaning, purpose, and what if anything to we get in return and why? This movie almost seems nihilistic in a crude way.

This was a good movie, not great, could have done more with the philosophy behind it.