21 October 2010

Martyrs

Horror Movie of the Day, 21 October 2010
Martyrs (2008)

This film takes the term horror to a new extreme and is amazingly disturbing.  I initially questioned recommending this one for my Horror Movie of the Day as it is so highly disquieting.  However, I believe that also is what makes it such a powerful movie.  I think if a film can make a person jump and shriek just a bit and then alternately make said person cry, it is a strong film.  Yes, there are moments that aren't top notch, but the movie is well done and it is definitely one that will make you cringe - both from the horror movie traits and the reality behind the first half of the film which leads to the disconcerting second half.  (And... for the love of all that is holy... if I don't write funny comments under the captions, we might all go screaming into the night and have raging nightmares.  Trust me... we need the humor for this one!)

The very first thing we see is a young girl, wearing just a white tank top and underwear, running down an empty street covered in blood and screaming.  Next we see video of a doctor leading a couple of other people to the run-down, abandoned building from which she escaped.  We learn that she was never sexually abused, but she was brutally abused both physically and psychologically.  We see the squalor she was forced to stay in while bound to a chair with a hole in it (so she could urinate and defacate when necessary). 

Funny... funny... how to make this first one funny... hmmm... uhhh... you know... this is a French film.  Maybe she's actually fleeing the horror of Sarkozy and his presidency. (Ha.  He has a low approval rating right now... check back in a year!)  OH! I have another one... maybe she's running to join the protests!! Nice.

We then see video of Lucie, the young girl who has escaped, in the orphanage where she has been relocated.  She is being taken care of by Anna, and the two become very good friends.  Anna knows that Lucie needs some support and wants to help take care of her.  The video turns off to show us that Anna is sitting with the doctor who informs her that they need her help since Lucie won't tell them who did this to her (She states it was dark most of the time and that she can't remember much).  Anna says she will help.

Bah... out of time again... will finish this later...

Go forth in fear!

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