Transcript
Speaker: Hey everyone, welcome to the Hauntology Records Review Cast. Today we have a special episode. We're doing ah a movie review of one of my favorite horror films, Martyrs.
Speaker: So today I'm joined with Sean. ah How's it going, man? Awesome. How about you? Pretty good. I guess so we'll just dive into it.
Speaker: Maru's French film, 2008, I believe. I think I should remember the director's name. I think it's Pascal LaGuerre. I'm not sure. French, out of the French extremity movement.
Speaker: It's probably one of those films I always say, like, you only really need to watch it once to get the impact because it is a brutal one.
Speaker: It touches on a lot of themes of, like, I guess, uh, regret, despair, ah hopelessness and like kind of, a this, this idea that no matter,
Speaker: ah no matter what you have in this world, you're not really sure what's beyond. And I think everyone always has this curiosity and i think, uh,
Speaker: I think a lot of these topics are very human. So i I can't say how much this movie impacted me because especially like the third act is pretty brutal.
Speaker: um Yeah, i it's hard for me to put into words this movie because it it's it's opening – It starts off kind of just like this bizarre revenge plot.
Speaker: And then kind of the second act becomes like kind of a classical horror and then twist into something else. So I guess we'll just start from there.
Speaker: What are your thoughts on the film? So, I mean, ah saying it's hopeless is –
Speaker: Yeah, that I don't even know how you could. i mean, it's an understatement even just saying that. I i don't know. There's so many.
Speaker: It's definitely one of those movies i where and I'm kind of like this. I'm weird. Like. there's no way I'd be able to eat while watching it for sure. cause I remember trying to like, i was like trying to eat some food and I, and I just couldn't. And then like after the movie, I had to take a shower like right now, right after that's just how it it made me feel. Um, but there were points in it during that second part. Well, first off, it definitely threw me for a loop.
Speaker: The, had it became, it becomes like a completely different movie. Um, at that second part. And I i was honestly under the impression that it was going to end like after the, the, the first part. And then it took a completely different turn.
Speaker: She goes down into the basement or whatever it is And like, it just, that's where, like you said, I mean, it becomes, there were, there were points of it where when she's getting like tortured, uh, that I just wanted it to end.
Speaker: Like I was like, it was hard to watch it. And it made, it definitely gives you the feeling of hopelessness. Like it yeah it's, it's just like, it's just brutal.
Speaker: Like, and I really, ah feel like I really put myself into movies and whenever I watch them, like to the point where it's actually kind of like, probably not good for my mental health, I guess. I don't know ah how much I get into them. So that part was really hard for me, for me to watch.
Speaker: And yeah, there are definitely parts where I just kind of wanted it to end. I'm glad it didn't. It was, it was one of those movies where,
Speaker: it definitely felt, I don't know. it, it was like an accomplishment finishing it, I guess. Yeah. the The third act is, yeah, the third act is so, it it feels like unnecessary, but like, or would it be third act?
Speaker: Okay. Would it be, would that be the third whenever she goes down into the basement? yeah i'd consider that third act i think like the second okay once you start seeing the visions okay yeah but like yeah uh i did it just drags on and i think obviously that was a choice of the director to like make you have to watch and uh because like a lot of a lot of uh A lot of modern film, it's lot of action-based and they show people being killed and stuff like that. And it's...
Speaker: um, it's really kind of over the top, but this shows like the actual like brutality of like a humankind in a way, you know, like it really forces you to look and it's, and in that way it's very impactful because it's like, man, it just feels like forever. And i mean, yeah, it's, it's, it's horrific to watch.
Speaker: Uh, I mean, the whole thing is just, tragic uh i will say this like and i've heard other people complain about this like why did she stay in the house like just leave for sure just leave yeah that part was definitely strange but yeah i guess it kept the plot moving just yeah it's definitely plot but i could also see being like so traumatized you just don't know what to do that's true yeah ah I mean, people respond to trauma different ways and just like not knowing what to do. your your
Speaker: Your friend just committed this horrific murder, like this family that you're not even sure that it was the family that did that to her.
Speaker: And then she kills herself. Oh, a lot of spoilers in this review, by the way, if you're listening. Oh, for sure. We'll put that in the title. Uh, but yeah, it's, man, I just, the whole time I'm thinking like, get out of the house, like leave, like what you doing? Um,
Speaker: Yeah, and then and then to see like what was actually happening, that finding the girl that was locked in the basement, that was hard to watch. Oh, yeah. um it it's ah It's ah so so, I don't know. It's it's a really messed up film. If you are looking for a film to like haunt your dreams, this might be one of them.
Speaker: Well, and the design that they had on that girl was also crazy. there is like There's like a metal... yeah So yeah i guess to like break break it down what the movie's about, I guess, is like... Isn't it? It's some girl who was tortured and at a young age, and then yep she ends up going to...
Speaker: this this home or place to I don't know if it's like an insane asylum or what it is, but and then she becomes friends with some girl and then Yeah. I don't know. They go to a house and and they, i don't know if I should just say the whole thing, but anyway, yeah, they, at one point they, they find this girl that's been being tortured a part of this. Like it's like an experiment.
Speaker: um And the thing that she has on is like a metal helmet that like covers her eyes and, It's it's so crazy. It's like it blends like supernatural with like kind of like religion. Yeah,
Speaker: yeah it's in horror, but not even like.
Speaker: i wouldn't even I don't even I guess horror is the right word for it, but it's it's more than that. It's like a psychological thriller, I guess, mixed with horror. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, this one's kind of hard to classify because it's definitely, um yeah especially the second act, there's a lot of horror elements. But yeah, I mean, like like I said, it starts off, it it just seems like kind of like like a revenge film. And then just right off the bat, just like.
Speaker: murders his family and you're like what the heck is going well that's a good that that there is no like breaks on this movie it's pretty much the whole way there's not ah there's no lulls in the in the story it's just all gas the whole time yeah yeah i guess i guess we spoil enough as is so like i guess we just talk about hope the whole plot. The idea like, there's this like secret society cult, I guess, that is trying to, they're they're trying to find out what's what's beyond, like what's the afterlife. And the they believe that through suffering, they can kind of
Speaker: see a glimpse into what's, what's next. So these like, this like elite secret society has been torturing these girls to get them to the point where they, they almost crossover, but they can still communicate.
Speaker: And, uh, yeah, I mean, ah We don't, it's kind of left on a cliffhanger. i don't know if that's the right word, but ah we, we, we don't get the answer.
Speaker: We don't know what Anna eventually sees. um She tells, she tells the leader, ah but I guess I probably don't have to spoil the whole thing, but yeah, it's, it's, it's left ah kind of pure interpretation. What she sees. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. Like that, that ending. Yeah, that's been like, I do wish, I guess it's better that they we don't know, but I, I kind of, I kind of have my interpretations, but.
Speaker: Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what she saw. It's definitely one of those things where, like, I i love ambiguous endings, um but this is one of those ones where I'm like, I just want the writer or whatever to tell me.
Speaker: Yeah. But I do like that it is open-ended, but at the same time, yeah, it's one of those things where I'm like, I want to know so bad what she said. Yeah.
Speaker: It's so strange that they finally get what they want and it we don't get it. you know like ah Man,
Speaker: i want to And i always think about that too because like does i mean they had the answer and but now they' were you know not giving it and does it continue you know like i don't know yeah I would definitely say for like anyone that wants to watch it, if you want to feel hopeless, then watch this. but If you've like, I really do feel like they, they play on that very well.
Speaker: Um, to to like an extent that it's, I mean, like I said, it is tough to watch. I don't know. Maybe not for some people, but for me it was. Yeah. The French extremity movement, um,
Speaker: like other other films like in that I guess would be high tension ah inside irreversible they all of a sudden these these directors just started pumping out these like insane movies um this was probably my favorite out of out of those ah that movement um yeah it's it's a very difficult watch um if you're into ah more extreme films. I would definitely recommend this. If you're squeamish, do not watch this one.
Speaker: This one's hard. This one is hard. And just like, there there definitely has been films that have been a more extreme, but like, ah they're almost more shock value.
Speaker: And this one doesn't feel like that. it says't It doesn't feel cheap. it It feels way more impactful than like, I don't know. Like you see films like hostile or saw or stuff like that.
Speaker: Um, those feel more like shock. Uh, this does not, this feels like something else.
Speaker: Yeah. I've done, I've never seen a movie quite like it. Um, and then there's also, there's plenty of breakdown videos for people that like to watch that. I watched a couple of them that like gave theories and stuff like that. um
Speaker: Yeah, just about what I mean, I know one of them because there's two girls in the beginning. um Someone even said, like, was the one girl even real?
Speaker: ah I don't know. There's there's a whole bunch of theories out there about what this movie means. And I think that kind of shows just how. interesting it is and how much different people can get different things out of it come up with their own theories it's definitely a yeah multi-dimensional movie yeah there's a lot of interpretation you can take from it um from the the character's perspectives and and then also just like the secret society like i think there's a lot that you can take from this film um
Speaker: It's definitely, it's it's unlike any other horror I've seen. And I think that's what made this one so special for me.
Speaker: Yeah, would you would you recommend this one to anyone? Well, I think the one thing you said was absolutely true. It's definitely, I wouldn't watch it again, probably. ah But I don't know.
Speaker: well yeah, no, there's no way. i And it's because of that third act. like I can't... it's really difficult for me to watch. I mean, even the movie monster with Charlize Theron, like I had to pause that movie and take a shower.
Speaker: i think it has to do with like anything where like women are like suffering or doing so It really, it affects me. And like, i yeah, I had to pause monster and like,
Speaker: take a break from it for a little bit to before I finished it. And that's not even like a, I know that that might sound some like, I don't know. I know that's not even, that's not even close to this movie and by any means.
Speaker: um Yeah. Yeah. as far As far as like movies that were hard for me to watch, I think
Speaker: This is definitely up there. I mean, Irreversible was that the one scene that is really hard to watch. Solo was a difficult one. ah probably No one should ever watch Solo. I'll say that.
Speaker: and um I don't know either, though. Yeah, don't don't even bother with that one. ah The Coffee Table. i don't ever watch The Coffee Table. I'm just rattling off movies.
Speaker: This should be called movie Movies You Should Not Watch. Yeah, movies I regret watching. Margaret's is not one of them. ah I'm glad I watched it, but it is a very difficult one.
Speaker: Um, yeah, if, if, if you, if you, you're not squeamish, if, I mean, like most people, they've seen like stuff like terrifier and stuff. I'm sure you can get through the violence, but if,
Speaker: I'd say this one's, if you're not squeamish, this is definitely worth a watch. i I love this film. I think it's shot very well. It's love it. it's it's good i love it And I, I, I think you had mentioned before, but I had forgot that, uh, did you took the name witness from this movie? yeah Is that okay?
Speaker: That's correct. Yes. That's awesome. Yeah. It was like right at the end and I was like, Oh shit. hes yeah Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That's a, obviously this one is an important film for me. Yeah.
Speaker: I believe the, the, the ending card says witness, a martyr is like, it means witness. Yeah. And I think that's, the I think that's also ties into like why the ending was, it was what it was because like, it almost kind of felt like to witness what's beyond is like too great for humanity.
Speaker: And that's how I interpreted the ending. That's why what happened happened. But obviously it's up to, your own interpretation, which is ah frustrating, but also kind of an interesting way to conclude this one.
Speaker: Yeah. So. Yeah. Definitely something. yeah i wouldn't watch again but it was i am glad i watched it i'm glad you recommended it yeah sorry i put you to through that yeah and it's perfect for halloween uh yeah it's ah it's a good halloween movie i guess if you're if you want to watch a serious halloween movie and not something like michael myers or something like that yeah this one's not campy or anything like that but yeah this one is um
Speaker: it's, it's a different, it's a completely different genre of horror and, um, it explores a lot of ideas that traditional horror doesn't, um, it is intense.
Speaker: Yeah. I would say the, it's the the horror movies and for people who love horror movies, I would say this would probably be on the top of most of their lists.
Speaker: I I'm not like super into horror. Um, but I can definitely see how this would be ats the top of people's lists. Uh, also, ah Oh my, what what, what is that one called that I was, that I've have talked about, uh, bring her back.
Speaker: yeah bring her back is yeah is my favorite horror movie but i also think that that's more psychological thriller than horror but yeah no that one was good too i i really enjoyed that one thanks for the wreck on that one uh uh Yeah, if if you yeah don't watch the American version, I have not, and I never will.
Speaker: make sure Make sure you watch the original French. um I think I saw the trailer for the American version. it was like a car exploding and stuff. Like, yeah, I don't. That's all right.
Speaker: I'll pass on this one. ah Directed by Michael Bay. Yeah. It's just cars exploding the whole time.
Speaker: Yeah. ah No hate on the Michael Bay fans, but not for me.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. if I feel like a lot of our ah the Hauntology Records ah fans. they A lot of them seem like they like horror films. so If you guys want more horror film recommendations or reviews, recommendations, let us know. We will definitely... I'm down to do a million of these. I love horror films.
Speaker: I'll make Sean watch all the fucked up films that I love. Hell yeah.
Speaker: I guess I'm down. Yeah. little scared because of some of the things that you've said before but yeah yeah ah this one this one will probably be at the top of ones that I will recommend you actually watch ah I mean because I've definitely seen more extreme films but not ones this well done you know it's um like there's like films like Serbian films and stuff obviously they're disgusting but
Speaker: um they they don't, it just doesn't feel as impactful. you know that a lot of those who just seem to be shock only. ah i know like some people pretend like there's this like underlying theme that's important, but like it know films like that don't actually feel that way.
Speaker: i I kind of actually appreciate horror films like Terrifier, where they're over the top kind of as a joke. You know, it's it's very self-aware, you know.
Speaker: Transformers. Transformers. It's very self-aware. yeah I mean, that's cool. I mean, sometimes you just want to shut your brain off and watch it watch things explode. That's cool. I do that all the time.
Speaker: I watched, ah I love Pacific Rim. I just want to see robots fight monsters. it's so It's so dumb, but sometimes you just want to see monsters fight robots, and that's cool. Well, i mean, I will always see every Godzilla movie that comes out in theaters because i absolutely love Godzilla, and I'm really upset that they didn't merge those movies.
Speaker: universes because i know that they said they were there was talks that they were going to merge pacific rim with godzilla and they didn't but yeah i'm still waiting for that to happen but that'd be that'd be something yeah it's uh yeah i'll reach i'll reach out to hollywood to make that happen oh yeah i know you got the know you can pull some strings Yeah, I'm like, this is the president of Hauntology Records. We need Godzilla versus Pacific Rim Robots. The Kaijus. Make it happen.
Speaker: Yeah, get the
Speaker: I guess that's all we got for Martyrus. Check it out if you like extreme horror. I love it. It's my favorite horror film. I can't think of another horror film that's been as impactful as that one.
Speaker: um And if you guys have any recommendations out there, drop them in the comments. I will watch them and let you know what I think. Yeah, you watch them and then you let me know what yeah which ones.
Speaker: Yeah. All right. ah I guess we'll wrap it up there then. All right. Thanks everybody for Checking out the review cast, please like subscribe, comment, and we'll catch you next time.
Speaker: Bye.
