Review of Martyrs (2008) by Bryan W — 26 Jun 2011

Horror films like this are rare. Yes, it features some expectedly attractive young actresses and plenty of gore and jump scares to go around, but around the time the second act rolls around, you begin to see that the makers had something in mind that goes beyond the need for scaring an audience.

To give too much away would spoil some of the fun, but the opening plays like a typical modern horror movie with an excellent balance of gross stuff, slow-boiling tension, and genuinely unsettling conceptual elements. Once things really start going, however, the shocks bleed away, the gore becomes secondary, and the unsettling aspect is pumped up to its utmost. Most of the final third of the film isn't really scary. More than anything, it goes to extreme lengths to make sure you don't look away, and by making you feel very little as the proceedings unfold, you come away feeling as though your soul has been deadened.

The ending is something that's sure to stir debate amongst fans, and the religious overtones won't be missed by anyone looking for something more than a few shocks. If nothing else, it's definitely something different and worth watching for horror buffs who believe that they have seen it all.