Perhaps more than any other genre, horror is reactionary. When one type of film is financially successful, studios and indie producers alike rush to make movies with similar aesthetic values in the hopes of cashing in. That’s how we ended up with the so-called “torture porn” craze of the mid–2000s where filmmakers kept trying to one-up each other with grotesque violence and body horror. Overseas, there was the brief New French Extremity movement — which provided its own measure of boundary pushing chills — and one of the most divisive and controversial entries was Pascal Laugier‘s 2008 film, “Martyrs.” Well, it’s taken nearly eight years, but an American remake has finally arrived and the first trailer has been released.
Looking like one of those random horror straight-to-VOD horror titles that litter the Netflix catalog, the American remake of “Martyrs” was penned by “The Revenant” co-writer Mark L. Smith and directed by the Goetz Brothers ("Scenic Route") The film follows a pair of young women who seek revenge on their mysterious torturers, with Troian Bellisario, Bailey Noble, and Kate Burton taking the lead roles.
“Martyrs” hits select theaters on January 22nd before landing on VOD, DVD and Blu-Ray on February 2nd. Watch the trailer below.
