Martyrs

I was recently recommended the French film Martyrs. I went into the viewing knowing nothing about the film, which I love doing. I've been on a bit of a French horror kick lately, figured I'd continue it.

This movie opens with intensity, and that doesn't stop the entire film. In fact, it gets more and more and more intense to the point where I wasn't sure if it could really go any further. This film does have parts that are pretty hard to watch, but they aren't there just to gross out or shock. Everything plays into the story.

The story is something that really just blew me away. This film had me guessing up until the very end. I kept thinking I had it all figured out, then it would slap me with something new to prove I really had no idea. And when everything was finally revealed, I was amazed. It is so rare nowadays to find a horror film that keeps you guessing to the end. It is even more rare to have a horror film that has a story that is so unique and fantastic as the one found in Martyrs. I fell in love with this film.

I also wanted to point out something rare this film had. Fantastic child actor casting. Not only do they look exactly like their adult counterparts, but they were fantastic actors. They had to portray some very intense subject matter, and they were damn amazing at it. I was so impressed.

Again, I do not want to give away anything about the plot of this film. It is far too good to be spoiled for you. I recommend this to all. Just remember, it is not for the faint of heart. Make sure you are up for it before watching. I hope you are up for it, because you too will fall in love with Martyrs.

Shock or not? Shock

Film: 5/5
Shock: 5/5

Inside (À l'intérieur)

In the past few months I've heard quite a bit about Inside, or À l'intérieur it's original French title. This film came out in 2007 and has been getting a lot of attention. I heard that it was not only very good, but also very shocking. Naturally I had to get my hands on it and I was not disappointed.

Instantly I realized that this film had something that I've never really seen in a horror film before. An element that really added an whole new level. The lead character is pregnant, and on the verge of giving birth. This added a new kind of anxiety I'm not used to having when watching horror films.

This started out rather normal for a horror film, just setting everything up. Then it got into the meat of it all rather quickly, which I liked. Considering the story around all of it was rather short and to the point, they didn't waste time messing around. Now I've seen French horror before, so I know what they are capable of and how far they are willing to go. Or at least I thought I did, until I watched Inside. This film is not for the faint of heart and I don't want to give too much away about it because for those who are going to see it, I want you experience it as it happens.

There were a few things about this film I didn't quite understand and a few editing choices I thought were odd, but overall it was quite good. It had me genuinely worried, and there were several times when I was staring wide-eyed at the screen with my hand over my mouth. Good stuff France, keep it coming.

Shock or not? Shock

Film: 4/5
Shock: 4/5

Hostel Part II

Well, apparently Eli Roth had more ideas in him for ways of people to die, but not enough to have an actual full film. This movie doesn't have much to it, and just sort of...ends. Very strange. Hostel Part II felt like I was just watching Hostel again, but for some reason the lead characters turned into women. Oh, and thanks Eli for the horribly done recap of the first movie in the beginning, via a dream sequence Jay Hernandez has just to catch everyone up. It might as well have said "Last time on Hostel", it was just that bad. Then Jay just...never shows up again for the rest of the movie...?

Anyways, we're given another group of stupid teens who want nothing more than to explore the foreign countryside of Europe and have sex with as many people as possible. Exciting stuff. Really inspired. They too are lured, drugged, whatever, and are taken to our familiar friend, the factory. This time around with much more security. I guess they're sick and tired of those pesky Americans escaping.

However, we are introduced to a pair of friends from America who's story could have been the saving grace of this movie. Roth, failed to allow this to happen. One friend, an amped up coke-head who can't wait to put a drill in someone's skull. And the quiet, nervous friend, who's second guessing the whole, pay to torture and kill plan. This was good at first. I was kind of impressed by the contrast. I actually quite liked the scene when they drive to the factory and are preparing for their sessions. Then Roth tries to give us about 5 surprise twists and winds up sucking any life the movie might have had right out of it.

I would be a fool not to mention the claim this movie touted when it first released. "The most shocking ending in horror movie history". Really? Really?! Come on, Eli. Really? I actually wrote Mr. Roth a letter upon seeing this ending some 3 years ago when it came out because I was so outraged. This wasn't shocking in the least bit. How dare he even try to claim that? A shocking ending isn't just more gore. A shocking ending is a twist, a reveal, an event that no one saw coming and/or changes everything about what the audience thought was happening or what it meant. I suggested that he go and watch all of Alfred Hitchcock's career and take damn good notes. I must say, I was pissed when I discovered his "shocking ending". Foolishness and child's play. Grow up, Eli Roth.

Shock or Not? Not

Film: 2/5
Shock: 2/5

Hostel

By now we've all heard of Hostel. Supposedly one of the most twisted horror movies ever. I would have to disagree. I understand and see what writer/director Eli Roth was trying to do here, but...meh. This just doesn't really work to me. It feels like he came up the idea of a place where you pay to torture and kill people, then tried to write some story around it. Which, could have find, but then he goes and tries to make us care about the characters. He doesn't have the writing talent to make me care about anything, let alone people.

The first half of this movie was just soft core pornography fueled by a seemingly endless drug supply. Roth's depiction of Amsterdam, and most of Eastern Europe is that is all just a modern day Roman Empire. No rules, anything goes, everyone has sex with everyone and apparently STD's don't exist either. I'm not sure what world this is supposed to exist in, but when you're trying to make everything so real, this really all really took me out of it.

There never was a time when I was actually shocked by this movie. For something with so much hype, I honestly expected to see more. The part that was supposed to be the grossest, most disturbing part actually had me laughing the hardest. I mean come on, that eye was so fake. You'd think Quentin Tarantino's money would be able to buy better special effects.

So I laughed and laughed as Roth failed to build suspense, and the whole revenge ending was rather anti-climatic. Also, how did Jay Hernandez know to kill the antagonist the same he his friend was killed by him? When his friend was killed, Jay was passed out in a storage closet at the bar. Stupid. Anyways, the acting and music were both terrible as well. This movie wasn't very good, and wasn't very shocking.

Shock or Not? Not

Film: 2/5
Shock: 2/5

Dead Snow

From what I can remember, Norway isn't exactly known for it's horror films. So when I first heard of Dead Snow I was a bit skeptical, but damn. Did those Norwegians prove me wrong. This movie had me cheering in the theater. It does follow a rather typical horror movie plot, but it does so intentionally. Dead Snow doesn't take itself seriously and that is a huge benefit it has going for it. That being said, they really pulled out all the stops in the violence and gore departments. It's funny, action packed and blood soaked.

This movie has some of the best kills out there. So good, in fact, that I'm not even going to describe them here because if you haven't seen this yet I want you to experience them unadulterated. Being from Norway, yes this movie has subtitles. If you don't like subtitles, well then suck it up because otherwise you're missing out on a whole hell of a lot of amazing cinema.

Dead Snow starts off like you've seen a million times in the horror genre and they even take the liberty of pointing that out (thanks to one character who's a movie buff). A group of friends on their way to spend vacation in a cabin. There's a hilarious, yet still eerie visit from a local to set up the back story and then the real fun begins. This movie is the first to really introduce the Nazi zombies to cinema, or at least the most popular. This is a vastly different take on the zombie genre when it comes to why it's all happening. Unfortunately, the zombies here do now follow to standard "Romero zombie" guidelines, but then again, none of this movie really does. I didn't mind it this time around. They had fun with it, and so did we. I would also like to commend them on the music selection. You'll know why once you watch several of the scenes. Great contrast used there.

Was this movie shocking? I am going to say it is. I'm basing this off of some of the kills and a creativity with the use of an intestine. Bravo to director/co-writer Tommy Wirkola. I recommend this to all.

Shock or not? Shock

Film: 5/5
Shock: 4/5