I apologise for my little rant , i was in a bad place for a while
Some of the best horror films of the last 10 years have had subtitles . You are far better off watching the originals in any language rather than wait for hollywood to remake it ( imho)
You'd be better off reading the subtitles and ignoring the picture. A thoroughly unpleasant film: not scary just repellent.
Unpleasant + depressing + French = art (apparently).
If you're one of the clueless spods who think "Irreversible" or "Hostel" is actually worth sitting through instead of tasteless rubbish then you might enjoy it.:)
If you're one of the clueless spods who think "Irreversible" or "Hostel" is actually worth sitting through instead of tasteless rubbish then you might enjoy it.:)
And you'd have to be somewhat clueless to bracket Martyrs and the rubbishy likes of Hostel together, frankly.
To be fair, there are one or two good ideas lurking inside Hostel, but Martyrs is leagues ahead.
And you'd have to be somewhat clueless to bracket Martyrs and the rubbishy likes of Hostel together, frankly.
To be fair, there are one or two good ideas lurking inside Hostel, but Martyrs is leagues ahead.
I wouldn't bet against it: I watched both of them. One is drivel, the other is drivel with subtitles. The "ideas" in Martyrs are fatuous and the plot is nonsensical. If I'm too dim to understand it then I'm a happy idiot.:)
I wouldn't bet against it: I watched both of them. One is drivel, the other is drivel with subtitles. The "ideas" in Martyrs are fatuous and the plot is nonsensical. If I'm too dim to understand it then I'm a happy idiot.:)
I felt cheated after watching this film, it starts off with such promise then just decends into cheap, relentless violence that you watch hoping that there is some profound and interesting point to, there isn't! Not the great movie some here claim it is.
I'd say Martyrs has an interesting first half but a disappointing second half. Hostel 1 and 2 are sleazy rubbish, albeit reasonably well made sleazy rubbish.
I wouldn't bet against it: I watched both of them. One is drivel, the other is drivel with subtitles. The "ideas" in Martyrs are fatuous and the plot is nonsensical. If I'm too dim to understand it then I'm a happy idiot.:)
I felt cheated after watching this film, it starts off with such promise then just decends into cheap, relentless violence that you watch hoping that there is some profound and interesting point to, there isn't! Not the great movie some here claim it is.
The plot (or at least the ideas behind) Martyrs is actually quite interesting compared to most horror films.
Though I don't think the director has directly said,the film is obviously based on the work/philosophies of controversial French writer Georges Bataille who became obsessed with photographs of a man in 1905 China being executed by the 'Death by a thousand cuts' (a nasty as it sounds execution method which was still used in China at the time) and the expression of seeming ecstasy on the face of the dying (or dead) man.
Georges Bataille was convinced that the man was going through some sort of transfiguration.
The same pictures are amongst the ones seen/shown to Anna in the middle of the film.
The plot (or at least the ideas behind) Martyrs is actually quite interesting compared to most horror films.
Though I don't think the director has directly said,the film is obviously based on the work/philosophies of controversial French writer Georges Bataille who became obsessed with photographs of a man in 1905 China being executed by the 'Death by a thousand cuts' (a nasty as it sounds execution method which was still used in China at the time) and the expression of seeming ecstasy on the face of the dying (or dead) man.
Georges Bataille was convinced that the man was going through some sort of transfiguration.
The same pictures are amongst the ones seen/shown to Anna in the middle of the film.
This is the photo that Anna see's in the middle of the film - <Warning quite gruesome> A photograph that obsessed the perverse philosopher Georges Bataille, in which a Chinese criminal, while being chopped up and slowly flayed by executioners, rolls his eyes heavenwards in transcendent bliss.
The same thing happens with Anna (and her eyes) at the end of the film.
LOL
It is one of a series of photos of the person being executed.
You can see the guy's face better in the 4th one here (click on it to enlarge) - <Again ... Warning quite gruesome>
I'm just saying that this is what the concept of the film seems to be based on
The plot (or at least the ideas behind) Martyrs is actually quite interesting compared to most horror films.
Though I don't think the director has directly said,the film is obviously based on the work/philosophies of controversial French writer Georges Bataille who became obsessed with photographs of a man in 1905 China being executed by the 'Death by a thousand cuts' (a nasty as it sounds execution method which was still used in China at the time) and the expression of seeming ecstasy on the face of the dying (or dead) man.
Georges Bataille was convinced that the man was going through some sort of transfiguration.
The same pictures are amongst the ones seen/shown to Anna in the middle of the film.
I thought it was a good film. It was like 2 films in one. For me, it showed how evil and selfish some people can be. The link to the Chinese execution - how can people be so evil? And people were crowded around watching!
The first time i saw this it was with the french subtitles and i thought it was brilliant..the second time i watched it was with the english dubbing and i didnt enjoy it as much
Never let the fact that a film is subtitled put you off, some of the best horror films are either French, Italian, Japanese or Korean.
I really like Martyrs and I think the last half of the film is better than the first. Its got a great concept and it quite disturbing in places, The director did a good job of getting across the hopelessness and desperation if the characters.
Never let the fact that a film is subtitled put you off, some of the best horror films are either French, Italian, Japanese or Korean.
I really like Martyrs and I think the last half of the film is better than the first. Its got a great concept and it quite disturbing in places, The director did a good job of getting across the hopelessness and desperation if the characters.
This is where I first heard about Martyrs and decided to go watch it for myself. Blown away. Amazing horror film. It seems very current and fresh because It is not a slasher or throw-away movie. I agree, don't let subtitles put anyone off, I used to hate subtitles but after seeing films like Martyrs, REC, Central do Brasil, i'd recommend it with subtitles rather than english dub. Martyrs is the kind of film I hope they never do a sequel because I wouldn't want it to turn out shit.
Comments
Can you read ? If so , watch the French film that has been talked about on these forums many many times and enjoy. It is a Fantastic film.
Yeah that's why I bought it because people raved about it on here.
Didn't realise it was French though.
I find films harder to follow having to read subtitles a long the way. I'm sure it will make up for it if it's good though.
Some of the best horror films of the last 10 years have had subtitles . You are far better off watching the originals in any language rather than wait for hollywood to remake it ( imho)
Unpleasant + depressing + French = art (apparently).
If you're one of the clueless spods who think "Irreversible" or "Hostel" is actually worth sitting through instead of tasteless rubbish then you might enjoy it.:)
To be fair, there are one or two good ideas lurking inside Hostel, but Martyrs is leagues ahead.
I wouldn't bet against it: I watched both of them. One is drivel, the other is drivel with subtitles. The "ideas" in Martyrs are fatuous and the plot is nonsensical. If I'm too dim to understand it then I'm a happy idiot.:)
If you're not used to watching a film with subtitles you may be surprised at how quickly you get used to them.
Also. Martyrs isn't really a dialogue heavy film so you won't find them too obtrusive.
If you find that the subtitles don't bother you, then you can check out the wealth of brilliant horror that's out there - start with
The Orphanage
The Devil's Backbone
Switchblade Romance
[rec] (remade as Quarantine)
All brilliant.
Regards
Mark
The plot (or at least the ideas behind) Martyrs is actually quite interesting compared to most horror films.
Though I don't think the director has directly said,the film is obviously based on the work/philosophies of controversial French writer Georges Bataille who became obsessed with photographs of a man in 1905 China being executed by the 'Death by a thousand cuts' (a nasty as it sounds execution method which was still used in China at the time) and the expression of seeming ecstasy on the face of the dying (or dead) man.
Georges Bataille was convinced that the man was going through some sort of transfiguration.
The same pictures are amongst the ones seen/shown to Anna in the middle of the film.
Very interesting
Regards
Mark
This is the photo that Anna see's in the middle of the film -
<Warning quite gruesome>
A photograph that obsessed the perverse philosopher Georges Bataille, in which a Chinese criminal, while being chopped up and slowly flayed by executioners, rolls his eyes heavenwards in transcendent bliss.
The same thing happens with Anna (and her eyes) at the end of the film.
LOL
It is one of a series of photos of the person being executed.
You can see the guy's face better in the 4th one here (click on it to enlarge) -
<Again ... Warning quite gruesome>
I'm just saying that this is what the concept of the film seems to be based on
Bataille was nuts.
Will probably re-watch soon, along with Frontier(s) and Inside
I really like Martyrs and I think the last half of the film is better than the first. Its got a great concept and it quite disturbing in places, The director did a good job of getting across the hopelessness and desperation if the characters.
Don't forget Spanish Horror.
...and Sweden !