what the f0k is Martyrs really about?

[@ltpvs]

oh my gawd... first clue that "Girl On Film" knows how to present a video essay; You didn't spend 45 minutes giving a play by play breakdown of the whole damn movie!!! a quick, to the point synopsis of the film before expounding on your point? sooooo professional and concise. totally following this channel! Also, a GREAT take on a GREAT film!

[@rachellydiab]

That’s so kind of you thank you!! I really make an effort to make sure my ‘analysis’ aren’t just plot descriptions, so it’s so nice to hear that that’a appreciated 🙏🏻 Glad you enjoyed!

[@FiercelyGold]

​@@rachellydiabI completely agree with @Itpvs and thank you for your take and videos. Subscribed today!

[@RPumpkinQueen]

The fact that we still discuss what message Mademoiselle could have received instead of bemoaning the dead girls, is a message all in itself.

[@keithjohansen9943]

Thank you, this is my favorite analysis of Martyrs that I’ve come across. I like your take on the end scene and what might have been whispered, feels like it finally makes sense now. Yours is the first review/breakdown that I’ve come across that really talks about guilt being at the center of this film (for both Anna and Lucie) and that is what makes Martyrs such an emotionally heavy but beautiful story to me.

[@rachellydiab]

I so appreciate this comment - thank you! It's always such a joy to hear that my analysis resonates with people and actually makes sense of the source material

[@eva9140]

The scene where Lucy is running away is still one of the most poignant scenes I’ve ever seen in horror. Ever since I first saw it I’ve never been able to get it off my mind!! Love the vid

[@rachellydiab]

I feel like the performance of the young actress is so underrated, bc she makes that scenario feel so real and fkn terrifying! thank u for watching!

[@roboseyo]

They manage to have two of the greatest opening scenes in horror movie history in the same film. The running kid, and "ding-dong"

[@foglake757]

Really great analysis - Martyrs is easily my favorite horror film of the last 20 years. I also feel the theme of survivor’s guilt is the most crucial element to understanding what it wants to say. I always found it interesting too how the film (intentionally or not) really capped off the “torture porn” wave of American horror in the 2000’s on a really beautiful note.. I didn’t know that the director was suicidally depressed while conceptualizing the film, that almost adds a whole new layer I feel.. the fact that a lot of people wanna believe that their suffering will be vindicated and rewarded (in this life or the ‘next’) when the harsh reality is that is likely not the case. Still in the end she does die a ‘martyr’ in a sense by avenging Lucie and likely putting a stop to the secret society or whatever. One could interpret that whether or not Lucie and Anna may meet again - she was able to transcend her guilt in by experiencing the suffering Anna went through herself. Such a perfect movie that will haunt me 5ev - I never wanna think about the 2015 version ever again. Also, your channel is super underrated, keep up the great work!

[@rachellydiab]

These are all such great takeaways! Even though I didn’t talk about it, now you’ve said it I see survivors guilt all over Martyrs. And I love the idea that the film is saying pain is meaningless as a direct reflection of Laugiers headspace. Thank you for ur comment! Rlly interesting read! (-:

[@Cedeno631]

​@@rachellydiabThe most horrifying part about this movie is when you realize Anna's not going to get out. That's what got me 😩

[@capguncarcrash]

as an ex-Mormon of 23 years, guilt and shame once defined me, especially surrounding my purity and “worthiness” as a missionary in Japan. guilt around worthiness, guilt around doubt, pettiness, impurity, whether i had properly, “perfectly” repented… you know, some young adult LDS version of scrupulousity

[@sirtorchington]

first half of this movie blew me away, the film making is incredible, and when the abuse to Anna began I actually had to shut it off. I know the ending, seen some of the imagery, but despite not even watching the finale this movie gave me nightmares for weeks (months?). fast fashion and consumption lmao

[@rachellydiab]

I definitely found the switch to Anna's torture really jarring! The concept of being in Annas situation alone is so twisted, I'm not surprised that it stuck around in your head without needing to see it play out. ps. thank u for acknowledging my powerful environmental message lol

[@whiteshadow091]

Thank you a lot for this video! I watched Martyrs a tad too young I think to understand it, but it kept haunting me. I have seen a fair amount of theories about this movie, and yours is the first one that completely made sense to me and made me want to finally give it a rewatch. I had come to the conclusion that there couldn’t possibly be a satisfying answer about what the martyrs saw and why Mademoiselle ended her own life, any attempt to answer would be disappointing compared to the depth of this mystery (thus the « keep doubting »). But you changed my mind about that, and I’m glad you did. Your entire channel is gold, your work is so interesting and well articulated, can’t wait to see more of it

[@rachellydiab]

Hey! Thank you so much for this comment, so kind 💜 It look me a long time to finally understand what Martyrs really meant to me, and it's so cool to see those same ideas resonating with other people

[@plainezaine5065]

I love this take on the film. I really love 'Martyrs' and have always seen it as a religious film. Not just because of the afterlife angle, but because of the themes of guilt and suffering which are so often used to imprison the minds of some religious people. Additionally, the focus on eyes and ritual torture really remind me of Biblical texts and trends (people who are blinded or otherwise disfigured spontaneously healed through atonement/faith, self-flagellation and asceticism, the focus on needing to make up for the plight of others through your own suffering). If we follow this logic, I really love the ending. Not just because it caps off the cycle of guilt which you so elegantly demonstrated, but because it shows that suffering won't actually bring you much closer to redemption or godliness. It will simply bring you ruin. It's best to live life for yourself rather than some possible benefits on the other side.

[@Birbeer]

Top horror movie,the Exorcist,Suspiria,Martyrs are my favorite

[@alicek5178]

I call it my comfort movie in that it reminds me that things can always get soooo much worse

[@rachellydiab]

I love that hahaha

[@Laavendermenace]

I know it’s about guilt but I think it’s also about love & how that guilt and trauma can rob us of it.

[@thomasalexanian927]

I believe Anna did see something, but lied to her in order to avenge not only Lucie but everyone that was tortured underneath her awful thumb.

[@stinkyspicee]

Thank you so much for making this video! Martyrs is the only horror movies that ever scared me. To be fair, I saw it when it came out [I was 12] and never revisited it. It really trigged tf out of me and mirriored traumas I had gone thru. As well as hallucinations I was having back then 😅 Maybe it's time for me to go back and work thru some shit. I really appreciate the insights you've shared. Thank you again

[@musstakrakish]

I love extreme horror and cinema. I always get something out of them and learn something new about myself and my traumas. Violent lives need violent art to heal.

[@FeralWench]

I like your theory and love your analysis of guilt! Most analyses I've watched seem to have on common belief that I tend to favor. The film's central focus on whether there's an afterlife is a red herring. I have always looked at Martyrs as a film about nothing. Not that the film has no meaning but it's more focused on invoking certain emotions from the viewer. After it has successfully pulled you in, thinking you'll get a satisfying ending to the film, the madam ends her life most abruptly and cryptically. It's supposed to make you feel uneasy and unsatisfied, maybe even a little angry at how cryptic in nature it is. It all feels senseless and to me, that's exactly what the director wanted. The film to me, focuses on the director's depression and wanting the viewers to walk through those feelings by utilizing the brutal visual effects and creating a storyline to make you feel somehow connected to the people in it. It never answers the question about an afterlife because it never intended to provide that answer in the first place. "Keep doubting" is the director's words to the viewer.

[@rachellydiab]

I actually really really like this take- and based on Laugier's explanations of the movie this is probably a lot closer to his intended 'meaning.' But I'm really glad you enjoyed this interpretation too!

[@shibitoobscura3348]

I'm French and I'm overwhelmed by the fascination this movie gets in other countries. To me, it feels like it gets more love around the world than here, in its homeland. Or at least, it seems more talked about outside of France. Forereigners seem much more traumatized by it than us, who tend to see it as just another horror movie (a very interesting one, though). Actually, the fact that other countries talk about "French extremity" tells a lot. We don't see it that way, here.

[@rachellydiab]

@@shibitoobscura3348 Oh that’s so interesting! I would love to know of any other french horror films that are actually considered extreme in France?

[@shibitoobscura3348]

@@rachellydiab On the same page as Martyrs, I'd say À l'intérieur, Baby Blood, Haute Tension, Frontières, Aux yeux des vivants, Irréversible, maybe Calvaire too. On a softer level, but still worth watching, I'd pick Ils, La horde, Les yeux sans visage, Les Diaboliques, Ghostland, Vermines, etc. There are many others that I haven't seen, too

[@littleboatvids]

love love love this analysis

[@rachellydiab]

Thank you!!

[@danakerjbam]

Yes. YES. Thank you for this interpretation. You helped me understand why the feeling this masterpiece always leaves me with isn't despair or dread. It's anger. At the waste. The arrogance. The abuse, and then the manipulation of the abuse. They created the guilt that ruined these women. See, im mad again. Thank you.

[@mikesnow.]

It's hard to call this my favourite film, but horror is my fav genre and this is my favourite horror film. I've seen it 3 times over about 6 years, and I think about it all the time. Not even in the way of dissecting the film, because my take on the ending is the same as yours, but just thinking about how heavy and powerful it is. No film has ever stuck with me the way Martyrs has.

[@j.s.8157]

If the cult was concerned with the look in the eyes, why did they put a metal blindfold on the woman Anna found?

[@nothanksplease]

the man who groomed me when i was like 16 showed me this move and it literally disturbed me so bad i remember being scared in the dark like a little kid. I hate it bro. I really cant handle most slasher stuff and thats probably why. i seen your video mentioned in a separate video and i felt the need to come say this. this movie is horrifying and if you meet a dude who loves it or maybe a chic... but im not saying you specifically but if you bf is like omg i love this movie prob run... that dude was 100% a psychopath. idt everyone who like horror is messed up but he certainly was. i was considering watching this but idt i should. weirdly crying. XD

[@Xxg0r3r4bb1txX]

Only 1 minute in but that cut to Pearl felt like a silent Fnaf jumpscare and just made me absolutely cackle 😭🙏

[@AHeartForHistory]

Another great video! Well done. Also great hair style change :)

[@readingwithmiles]

recently came across ur channel and i’ve been binging them all day! love ur analysis in this one and the rest :)

[@Whimsicalbrainpan]

Brilliant video! Martyrs is my favorite horror movie. It rocked me to my core when i saw it. I enjoyed your insights.

[@rachellydiab]

Thank you so much for watching! Martyrs 4eva

[@novakai6668]

I agree about the remake! I watched it and it was so bad due to the loyalty I have to Martyr I was pissed. So pissed I watched the original again so I knew I wasn't crazy!

[@CalvinChikelue]

Till this very day, I can’t even hear the title of this movie without my heart racing & feeling a pit of sickness in my gut from how deeply & effectively disturbing it was. The terror of meeting with an analog of the film’s cult IRL & being chosen is right up there with thalassaphobia, being buried alive & losing my sanity in the rankings of my Top Lifelong Fears.

[@deaditeera]

One of my all time favorite movies ❤

[@nomemories130]

I came away feeling it was about the ill-advised attempts people make to prove and then peer into the afterlife and how they hurt other people in the process.

[@NessNayii]

I always look forward to your analysis videos - they're never anything less than thought provoking, even on the occasions when I don't agree with your interpretations. I haven't watched Martyrs, and I doubt I ever will: it looks more depressing than I want to experience...too sad, and I have enough of that to deal with when I look at events on the world stage, happening in reality. Some films with similar themes I find cathartic (Suspiria 2018 deals with guilt, and SO much more than that - and it's a film that inhabits me, possesses me), but this one will leave me miserable, I suspect. Nonetheless, thanks for your thoughts - I like the ideas you've presented here. On that note - is this a possibility: could the martyr have told the mademoiselle of a vision/an experience so awesome, terrible and profound, so utterly beyond the human condition, that it simply cannot be accepted and absorbed by the human mind? Hence to live in doubt is better, and to die is the only option left to the mademoiselle? I wouldn't know of course, having not seen the film, but it seems like it might work?

[@rachellydiab]

This is such a lovely comment, thank you (-: And yes I totally jive with the idea of the truth being almost incomprehensible! It doesn't really work in this particular metaphor - but yes, I think it completely works on a different level!

[@elizabethstack8694]

Excellent theory & analysis. I tend to think there is something, but the knowledge is utterly consuming, & destroys Mademoiselle because only a saint like Anna has the spiritual strength to bear it. Mademoiselle is a witness by proxy & kills herself to protect her cult from what she has learned, thus making her the other martyr.

[@MindbodyMedic]

The ending is likely a pointed reference to the torture inflicted on innocent people by religious fanatics for no good reason. It's pure nihilism. I like both possible endings. We want the resolution of Heaven and prefer to believe in that rather than contemplating nothingness. It's a very smart ending and not a cop out like so many pseudo profound shock horrors. Surely our lives and constant stress/struggle has to mean something?

[@ladygrey4113]

9:43 not to be mean but that quote got a chuckle out of me like, really dude?

[@thesolaraquarium]

the problem with this film is because the director will not come clean on the ending or the meaning of it really (something about Catholicism I think he said) then it could be about anything you want it to be. I feel sometimes that the whole story is about Jesus and the crucifiction and that Anna at the end became a Jesus figure and it was Jesus that spoke to the sick woman at the end. She then committed suicide like Judas did. Other times I feel that the sick old lady told Anna that the victims they torture see things that are not real. And that Anna managed to convince the woman that she was seeing the truth (ie was a martyr not a victim) and told her she saw nothing. Nihilism was what made the woman commit suicide. The belief in nothing, which Anna confirmed. ie life is meaningless. Either way the ‘victim’ versus ‘martyr’ notions of the film are religiously not correct. ‘Victim souls’ are believed to be souls who choose to suffer, just like martyrs do. A victim in Catholicism is just as powerful in meaning as a martyr. So if it is a take on Catholicism it is wrong. Anna was a victim soul.

[@robertodibaggio8181]

Gulit? There's an entire 'demonic girl" character that isnt even real, just a manifestation of the characters Guilt over running away and leaving another girl to be tired for the rest of her life..of course its about fookin guilt..and sadism and being fookin insane.

[@AC-dk4fp]

Its not that deep its just pink isle Hellraiser/joking but not really. I haven't actually seen Hellraiser or read George Baitaille but having accidentally rented Martyrs in film school back when you could rent DVDs in the Mail it does work as an alternative reference when listening to philosophy on film lectures a decade latter. The end of the first episode of the BBC Fingersmith adaptation was the closest piece of media I experienced at the same time, can't watch torture porn. Had to take a break to walk through a graveyard then a Roman legionary fort before finishing it to post back in the little village postbox. The Caerleon campus started to close down the next year so that's hard to repeat.

[@cameronclark3418]

Martyrs was king until later films such as a Serbian film and Antichrist knocked it off. Truly disturbing pieces of cinema! at the same time they worked, they evoked feelings that the average film doesn’t.

[@JordanVanRyn]

I'm going to say this, "Martyrs" is a very good film. But NOT something I want to see again. Great analysis though!

[@Sanderus]

The ending is showing the mirror to the audience. See, you are no better. You just watched pointless torture and deaths and you do not give a damn about the victims. You only care about the mystery

[@wildmarjoramdieselpunk6396]

Do you review any of the extreme French wave directed by women? I guess NFE?

[@oksanamanzana]

Thank you so much for this analysis! I agree with everything you said regarding guilt to the end scene. One of my favorite movies bc of this theme!! 🫶🏽

[@rachellydiab]

Agh I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 💜