gloves movie debates Movies Gloves Has Actually Seen Debate #7: Martyrs (2008)

[Gloves | 11,796]

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Caution: Trailer is somewhat NSFW (gore, girl in underwear)

 

I'm into horror, in all if its various forms. I've seen the classics, I've seen the drek, I've watched the cult and the killer and the doll and the zombie and the stalker and this and that and the other. I've seen a lot of gore, and I actively seek out interesting horror films. Knowing which it may surprise people to hear that I consider myself squeamish; especially needles and scalpels, tiny cut kinda stuff.

That all to say, this is a fuckin' GOREY film. Not a comfortable kinda gorey like Evil Dead "haha his head got blown off, nice!" kinda gore, rather a more "holy shit this is hardcore torture porn" kinda gore.

THAT to say, I didn't think this was a bad film. It was polarizing as hell when it released in 2008, with a lot of people leaving theatres mid-movie. It's bleak, has a very odd structure, touches very just barely momentarily on the spiritual, and has what I considered a hilariously cliche ending, considering everything that lead up to it. There are twists and turns that made me go "Oh shit, they were serious", which was pretty interesting, I'm no savant but I'm not often surprised by movies and this one surprised me a couple of times for sure.

I actually watched it for the first time with my wife who is also into horror, but she's adamant that she's not seen it. Perhaps she blocked it out of her memory; every time I explain the plot to her "No you've seen this we watched it together, remember this happens, and that?" - she's either bullshitting me or she legit thinks I'm gaslighting her into thinking she's watched this movie. It's legit weird.

I don't really suggest that anyone watch this movie, necessarily. I thought it was interesting, it definitely has stuck with me. But it's almost like PTSD - I don't suggest you run off to war so you can get triggered any time you hear a BANG. You might like this movie, but don't tell anyone I sent you.

[Reed Rothchild | 9,549]

Ooh, interesting.  I owned this on DVD once upon a time.  I have no idea how to rate it

I don't know if it's the singular most difficult watch out there (Irreversible and The Girl Next Door come to mind), but it's certainly in the running!

[Gloves | 11,796]

9 minutes ago, Reed Rothchild said:

Ooh, interesting.  I owned this on DVD once upon a time.  I have no idea how to rate it

I don't know if it's the singular most difficult watch out there (Irreversible and The Girl Next Door come to mind), but it's certainly in the running!

Yeah I went with "liked it" but it's like... Am I outing myself as a horrible person by doing so? Lol. 

[Brickman | 3,995]

Seen it loved it.

This movie is definitely on another level of horror. I think the ending was probably up there as one of the best horror movie endings. 

I will admit that I did have to fast forward some of the torture scenes. There’s really only so much one can take haha.

[Link | 2,715]

I like horror, I like head-explodey arm-rippy-offy chest-impaley violence. But yeah, I don't care for torture porn. Not gonna see it.