One of the high points of the wave of New French Extremity movies of the 2000s (even if its director disowns that label), "Martyrs" begins with the brutal massacre of a family, then shifts into the realm of psychological horror, before finally delving into dark themes of torture and depravity that make most "torture porn" movies look like child's play. And yet, the film doesn't feel simply exploitative. In its portrayal of the increasingly brutal experiences of girlfriends Lucie (Mylene Jampanoi) and Anna (Morjana Alaoui), Pascal Laugier's film ramps up the violence and gore without losing a sense of ultimate purpose that makes "Martyrs" as intriguing as it is wince-inducing. That the performances are uniformly excellent doesn't hurt either, with leads Jampanoi and Alaoui deserving special praise for their intense contributions to this most intense of movies. If you're looking for a graphically violent horror movie that doesn't skimp on the subtext, has great effects work, and even a kinda funny ending that ties a nice bow around the events that preceded it, this is well worth watching. You probably won't wanna rewatch it all that much, though.
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