Martyrs

Martyrs is a 2008 French psychological horror film written and directed by Pascal Laugier. The film stars Morjana Alaoui, Mylène Jampanoï, and Catherine Bégin. Set in 1986, it follows Lucie Jurin (Jampanoï), a traumatized young woman who seeks revenge against individuals who abducted and tortured her as a child. Her actions, aided by her friend Anna Assaoui (Alaoui), also a victim of abuse, result in dire consequences. Laugier wrote the screenplay for Martyrs during a period in which he was suicidal and experiencing clinical depression, inspiring him to "make a movie about pain." He was particularly influenced by Catholicism while writing the film. Martyrs was an international co-production between France and Canada. Principal photography began in Montreal in 2007. Martyrs screened at the French film market Marché du Film in May 2008, where it incited audience walkouts due to its graphic and disturbing content. After screening at numerous film festivals, it was theatrically released in France on 3 September 2008, where it faced notable controversy. The French film ratings board, Le commission de classification des œuvres cinématographiques, initially granted it an 18+ rating, forbidding audience members under the age of eighteen from seeing the film. Following an appeal by the film's producers, this was overturned by the French Minister of Culture, and its rating was reduced to 16+. Critical responses to Martyrs were highly polarized, with some film critics condemning it as a violent splatter film, while others praised it for its thematic content. It has been cited by some critics as being part of the New French Extremity movement, an association Laugier denounced. Film scholars have observed that the film features themes of revenge, Catholic sainthood, transcendence, and existentialism. In 2017, IGN named it one of the best horror films of all time, ranking it number 32 in a list of 100 films, while Rolling Stone included it in a 2021 list of the greatest horror films of the 21st century. It is regarded as a contemporary classic of the horror genre. An American-produced remake of the same name, written by Mark L. Smith, was released in 2015.