Martyrs 4K 2008

The film is simply stunning in its harshness, in a way a philosophy of life, or more precisely, life after death. This film is unlike any other horror film, although it probably has some similarities with Hostel, but not entirely. Hostel is probably more restrained in its depiction of all the horrors that one person can inflict on another.

On the one hand, the film is repulsive and impossible to watch, and you think, “How could they film something like this?” But then you understand the essence, tragedy, and realism of what happened to the characters in the film. You involuntarily imagine yourself in the heroine's place, and goose bumps run down your body as you think, "How would you behave in such a situation, what would your emotions and experiences be? You would probably break down just by trying the ‘food’ that they fed Morzhan El Aloui (Anna) — the heroine of the film, who, by the way, was played superbly by the actress.

Watching this film completely turned my impression and attitude towards horror films upside down. After watching another film, such as “Wrong Turn” or “Paradise Lake,” etc., the impression of the film remains, but it doesn't really affect you, and it doesn't bring anything new, just a banal plot: students somewhere in the woods, outside the city, or a couple traveling together in the desert, to whom all sorts of terrible things happen—there's none of that here. Here, you really get goosebumps, even though the entire film and the entire plot takes place in the tormentors' house. Having watched quite a few films in my lifetime, including horror films, I was stunned by this one.

When I watched this film, I seriously wondered if there really are such obsessed rich people who, for the sake of some meaningless experiments or for the sake of comfort or the development of their fantasies and needs, carry out such inherently horrific things—experiments.

I wonder if such a film will be allowed in theaters?

I just want those who have seen this film and loved it (including myself) to understand that they should not be regarded as sadists or maniacs. it just takes patience, endurance, and strong nerves to watch and understand the whole essence of this film, and in the end, the viewer decides for themselves what happened or how they would like the film to end.