One of the Most Intense and Disturbing Horror Films Ever

When I saw "Martyrs (2008)" at Blockbuster, I assumed that it was another "Saw"/"Hostel" type torture movie, but since it was foreign I figured I would check it out anyway. Boy was I wrong! It is really almost impossible to describe this movie. At first it appears to be an extremely violent revenge flick, mixed with a scary creature haunting. What is surprising is how quickly these aspects appear, it really has you wondering what could possibly happen in the rest of the movie. By around the middle of the film, it takes a completely unexpected turn. The last part of the movie is extremely difficult to watch, not only because of the disturbing visuals, but also because of the pacing. While it is uncomfortable, I think it manages to convey the intended tone.

"A young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity."



I've seen lots of disturbing, gory movies over the years, but I really don't know if I could watch it again, although I feel I need to just to try to comprehend it better.

What Does this Spanish Thriller Have in Common with "Lost"?

Since I don't watch "Lost", I really didn't make the connection between it and "Fermat's Room (2007)", but apparently numbers play a big part in the plot of "Lost", and the same goes for this movie. In fact 'the' magic numbers from "Lost" make an appearance in "Fermat's Room".

"Four mathematicians who do not know each other are invited by a mysterious host on the pretext of resolving a great enigma. The room in which they find themselves turns out to be a shrinking room that will crush them if they do not discover in time what connects them all and why someone might wish to murder them."



Although I didn't expect to, I really enjoyed this film. (It probably has to do with the fact that I love puzzles). In fact I might even be inspired to watch "Lost" now.

Princess Aurora

The South Korean movie "Princess Aurora (2005)" seems very similar to "Lady Vengeance" in many ways, but other than certain plot points it is actually very different. The folks over at DVDtalk.com do a great job of comparing the two films:

"This film has been getting a lot of comparisons to Chan Wook-Park's excellent Sympathy For Lady Vengeance and while both movies definitely play around with some of the same themes and ideas (and in that regard, the comparisons are definitely warranted), the execution of both films is quite different. Sympathy For Lady Vengeance is highly stylized and at times borders on surrealist and it also keeps you guessing as to who was responsible for the crimes whereas Princess Aurora isn't nearly as flashy and it lays out its story in a much more matter-of-fact manner. As such, it's easier to follow and while it is more simplistic it is still very much a unique movie that stands on its own very well."



(I can't yet find a trailer with English subtitles. This movie is unfortunately hard to find...)

See Also: Lady Vengeance

Tokyo Tearjerker

"Nobody Knows (2004)" is a really depressing movie about a mother who abandons her four children in their apartment. What's even more depressing is that it is based on a true story.

Patiently Waiting: Chan-wook Park's "Thirst"

When I heard that the writer/dirctor of "Oldboy" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" was making a vampire movie called "Thirst (2009)", I could barely contain my excitement. Now I'm just counting the days until the DVD is released...




See Also: Lady Vengeance

Slingshot Hip Hop

I've watched several documentaries about rappers from other countries, and it's always interesting to watch the impact that hip hop has around the world, especially in areas of political unrest. "Slingshot Hip Hop (2008)" is one of the best examples of this. It also has some cool animation effects throughout the movie, especially the opening sequence.

"The voice of a new generation rocks and rhymes as Palestinian rappers form alternative voices of resistance within the Israeli-Palestinian struggle."

Say Hello to the "Bad Guy"

"Bad Guy (2001)" is one of several films by South Korean writer/director Ki-duk Kim that I've had the pleasure of watching. Unlike his other films that I've seen, this one has a lot more action and a grittier storyline.

"When a local pimp is publicly humiliated by a snobbish college girl, he manipulates her into a life of sexual slavery at his brothel. As he watches her nightly humiliation from behind a two-way mirror, his obsessive desire consumes him while she learns there is no love more complete than her captor's."

Lady Vengeance

"After a 13-year imprisonment for the kidnap and murder of a 6 year old boy, beautiful Lee Guem-ja starts seeking revenge on the man that was really responsible for the boy's death. With the help of fellow inmates and reunited with her daughter, she gets closer and closer to her goal. But will her actions lead to the relief she seeks?"



"Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005)" is the third film in South Korean director Chan-wook Park's revenge trilogy, following "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)" and "Oldboy (2003)". I haven't seen Mr. Vengeance (yet), but I have seen Oldboy, which was exquisite. It had the perfect blend of action, violence, dark humor, suspense, and one of the greatest twists in cinema history. So I was expecting a lot from Lady Vengeance. Turns out it was very little like Oldboy in that it had a lot less action and the gore was much more subtle. There was also a lot more symbolism in Lady Vengeance, and I have to admit even I was confused at times. Although it wasn't quite what I expected I still enjoyed it (it's actually really funny, in a disturbing way). And Geum-ja has got to be one of the coldest b*tches ever on screen. But I wouldn't be surprised if the remake (rumored to star Charlize Theron) is dramatically simplified for American audiences, which in this case might actually be a good thing.