The glorious Scary Zara Mary had me back on Reyt Scary to talk about one of my favourite ever films, Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs. I think this movie is a bleak, beautiful masterpiece and if you haven’t seen it yet, watch it before you watch/listen to the episode – it’s exceptional.
Tag: French cinema
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France, 89 minutes, David Moreau
MadS is intense, claustrophobic, un-nerving, gory and absolutely fucking brilliant.
The camera work in this film is insane – how anyone can make a film in one shot, amazes me. Yet alone one like this, with vehicles, practical sfx and a whole bunch of stuff I can’t get my head around. I am desperate for a directors commentary and special features on a shiny physical release.
The actors are incredible and to keep up that intensity of performance for an hour and 20 minutes, must have been utterly exhausting. I was gripped, invested and a little bit tired!
French horror films love to make us feel claustrophobic and tense and MadS has very similar vibes to Climax and the party/club scenes in Irreversible (both Gaspar Noé). It even had some parallels to Martyrs, which I loved. MadS made me feel that horrible sense of panic I get in a party, a loud,busy venue or a place I just don’t want to be. Fuck, French cinema is good.
MadS is available on Shudder.
Sam Munster 