MARTYRS (2008) || SAW (2004)

me when there was only one universe:

famous last words (an ode to eaters) ~ ethel cain

The horror genre has famously fetishised violence against women. Therefore, it is no surprise that male-directed Martyrs has been criticised for its extreme portrayal of female torture. However, the depiction of violence in the film goes past fetishisation – instead, it is truly grotesque. It can be argued that Martyrs explores how women’s bodies are institutionally abused and needlessly tortured simply for being female. The abuse of women is widespread, lurking underneath (literally) a fancy house inhabited by a happy family. When Lucie enters the house, she threatens to destroy this barrier and bring to light the systematic abuse of women. Laugier suggests that doing so isn’t as straightforward as one might hope.

— Aimee Ferrier, The Best Movies You've Never Seen: The Human Capacity for Violence in 'Martyrs'

Martyrs (2008)

i’m so normal abt them actually

Drives me insane that people categorise Martyrs (2008, French Ver.) in the same bracket as A Serbian Film. Like, did you not see the love baked into the movie? How love is what ultimately moves the plot to where it ends up? How it is the core message the film wants you to come away with?

Vague spoilers under cut

It shoves in your face the concept that pain and suffering is a woman's birthright. We are "predisposed" to torment that, given the right nudge, can turn into enlightenment. "Matyrs" or rather, a "Witness" to our enduring trauma, and the movie shows you that it's wrong. It's flawed, and evil and cruel.

Women who become Matyrs do so in SPITE of their pain. They are fuelled by their love of something, someone, and find peace in it. Anna's love for Lucie, her deep empathy and kindness to those around her is what ultimately frees her from suffering.

And yet, the film is careful to express to us witnesses, that those who become "victims" instead, are not deserving of vitriol or hate, or fear. They have personhood and value. They are not lesser because they "failed" in becoming Martyrs, rather that to try and engineer the Divine, results in meaningless suffering of innocents. Anna became a Martyr because she had the tools in which she could find meaning past her torture. She had her memories and love of Lucie, her innate desire for the betterment of everyone she came in contact with and the knowledge of "why" she was forced to endure inhumanity. The countless "victims" did not have that. They were women who were vulnerable, alone, and to them, their agonies had no meaning to it past simple sadism.

Love brought Anna to follow Lucie, and end up falling into the wrong hands. And Love guided Anna past it.

Thinking about Lucie Jurin. Oh my god.

lil lucie i did a few days back

she comes, comes for you first

insp (x)

♡ i bet on losing dogs ♡

Breezeblocks by Δ (alt-J) // Martyrs (2008) directed by Pascal Laugier

Meet me tomorrow night

Or any day you want

I have no right to wonder

Just how, or when

Martyrs (2008) / The Smiths - Pretty Girls Make Graves