Martyrs

Martyrs is a 2008 psychological horror film written and directed by Pascal Laugier, and starring Mylène Jampanoï, Morjana Alaoui, and Catherine Bégin. It follows a young woman's quest to seek revenge against individuals who abducted and tortured her as a child, and her friend, also a victim of abuse. An international co-production of France and Canada, Martyrs was filmed in Montreal, and screened at the French film market Marché du Film in May 2008, where it incited audience walkouts due to its graphic and disturbing content. It was released theatrically in France on 3 September 2008. The film received polarized reviews from critics and has been cited by some critics as being part of the New French Extremity movement, an association Laugier denounced. In 2017, IGN named it one of the best horror films of all time, ranking it number 32 in a list of 100 films, while Rolling Stone included it in a 2021 list of the greatest horror films of the 21st century. An American-produced remake of the film bearing the same title premiered in 2015.