The movie begins with a young girl named Lucie, who we see escaping from a warehouse where she was held captive for an unidentified period. She is then taken to a hospital, where she meets Anna, a nurse who helps her recover from her trauma.
Years later, Lucie tracks down the people responsible for her captivity, and with Anna’s help, murders them. However, things take a terrifying turn when Anna discovers a hidden chamber in the same house where Lucie was held captive. In this chamber, Anna discovers another young girl, Sarah, who appears to have been held captive for years. Despite Sarah being severely ill and malnourished, Anna is determined to help her.
The movie takes a terrifying turn when Sarah is discovered to be linked to a secret cult that believes in the existence of martyrs. They believe that martyrs can achieve a higher state of being by experiencing near-death experiences. As Anna and Sarah discover the truth behind this cult, the movie takes a gruesome turn.
As the title suggests, the movie is a commentary on the concept of martyrdom, both in religious and secular contexts. The film shows how far some people will go to achieve a higher state of being, even if it means hurting themselves and others around them. The violence and gore are used to drive this point home, as the movie makes it clear that there is no real escape from violence and that once it is within you, it becomes a part of you.
The film’s violence and brutality have attracted a lot of criticism, with some calling it an example of “torture porn.” However, the film’s defenders argue that the violence is necessary to convey the movie’s larger message about the inevitability of violence and the human desire to transcend it.
Martyrs was a critical and commercial success in France, with many calling it a masterpiece of horror cinema. However, its graphic portrayal of violence has made it controversial with some, and it has been banned in several countries. Nevertheless, the film remains an important work in the history of horror cinema, as it raises important questions about the nature of suffering and the human condition.
In conclusion, Martyrs is an intense and horrifying movie that explores the concept of martyrdom and what people are willing to do to achieve a higher state of being. The movie’s violence and brutality convey the message that once violence enters your life, it is hard to escape it. Despite its graphic nature, the film remains an important work in the history of horror cinema, and its place in the canon of horror movies is well-deserved.