One horror film is so depraved that viewers fainted and has left many traumatized.
For horror fans, nothing is too much to stomach, yet this 2008 movie is continuously at the top of many lists as one of the most deeply disturbing films they’ve ever seen.
Films such as Cannibal Holocaust (1980), A Serbian Film (2010), or Salo (1975) remain grouped with this disturbing horror.
These films share the common theme of watching something so brutal and depraved that it’s hard to envision its fiction.
They aren’t the normal jump-scare horrors relying on premises of ghouls and ghosts, but rather sadistic and harrowing scenes of torture and brutalisation.
This 2008 film continues to leave viewers traumatized, taking to social media to discuss, one user writes: “THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR THE WEAK-HEARTED PEOPLE. This movie is for those who don’t like regular horror movies and want something hardcore.”
“1st of all, I wanna say if you are under 18 or you are weak-hearted hearted then please maintain distance from this film,” someone else warns. “This film has unbearable violence and disgusting torture scenes.”
A third person says: “Disturbing! As a horror addict, I can honestly say that this is the ONLY film ever to cause me any psychological discomfort. My (adult) son got up and walked out at the climax. He, too, loves horror.”
Directed by Pascal Laugier is part of the New French Extremity movement, characterized by depictions of violence, psychological trauma, and s*xual violence.
Laugier was frustrated with the predictability and sanitization of mainstream horror, so he set out to make one that was not only scary but physically and emotionally devastating.
The director told WhatCulture that he was in a particularly dark period of life when he imagined the title, and the depressive episode led to the creation of one of the world’s most disturbing horrors.
The movie follows a young woman named Lucie, traumatized by childhood torture, who seeks revenge on those she believes are responsible.
Laugier’s film has polarized critics and audiences alike.
Some praise the ‘masterpiece’, calling it a philosophical horror, yet some condemn it for its violence.
The highly controversial film is accompanied by content warnings due to its graphic violence, emotional brutality, and disturbing themes, and is widely considered one of the most extreme horror films ever made.
Some film festivals and distributors refused to carry the film, and in France, it was originally given an 18+ rating, which is restrictive for the country.
The second half of Martyrs contains extreme scenes of graphic torture, with many critics stating it crosses the line over to tortue p*rn.
Many screening walkouts have been reported, including at the Toronto International Film Festival, where a critic noted that multiple people left during the film.
Allegedly, some audience members even fainted during some screenings.
Watch the trailer for Martyrs below…
Martyrs is available to stream via Amazon Prime.