Scariest. Movie. Ever.

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I am curious as to what y'all thought of the ending? Utterly bleak, weirdly hopeful or total bullshit? I have heard a few different theories. One that Anna told mademoiselle that the afterlife was indescribably beautiful but she would never see it because of the horrific things she has done and mademoiselle kills herself out of regret. Or Anna tells her it is so beautiful mademoiselle kills herself to get there sooner. Or she tells her that there is nothing at the end and she kills herself out of despair. I don't know, in a sense I don't think it matters. For me the power in the movie was not in the answer but rather the methods they took to get it. But still I am going to go with the first theory just so I can believe it has a somewhat happy ending. I kinda want to watch it again to get a better understanding. Maybe after the holidays.

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Yeah, I'm thinking Martyrs doesn't lend itself to holiday cheer. I'm with you on the "it doesn't matter" conclusion in the same way that when Inception ends it doesn't matter whether the spinning top falls or not, the ending is all about embracing a choice to take the leap into doing That Important but Troubling Thing.

[kateln]

Y'all, I can't even process the movie to that extent yet, I'm still on the little details (not the big picture) like if that thing following Lucie was real or just her imagination? Also, for me, as brutal as the movie was (and as much as I know it will bother me for a while, and just get worse before it gets better) the death of the family REALLY bothered me. I could immediately identify with that, and see it happening in the real world--and not distance myself from it--so that's been sticking with me. The fear when the mother and the other girl were trying to escape...and I've now just guaranteed myself another sleepless night...

Plus, like The Exorcist before it (in a different way/topic)--this movie really zeroed in and focused on fears that I think every Catholic school kid has, then ripped it open and exploited them for all it's worth.

Like I said, I'm still focusing on the little details. I know that I'm going to start thinking about the overall film (and that's going to REALLY bother me) but right now it's just bits and pieces of the breakdowns, and the visual images, and just the overall tension of the film. That it just didn't let up.

Uhm, if anybody needs me I'll be at home...with all the lights on in the house, watching Monty Python, Eddie Izzard, The Kids in the Hall, and whatever other stupid/funny/silly thing is out there...

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Ahah! Y'see, that's why I LOVED the movie, for its Catholicism. And, when you really think about it, as brutal as the film is, it only brushes up against the more horrifically twisted aspects of Catholicism. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Lucie's Thing was a psychotic manifestation of her vengeance and fear, because Anna couldn't see it, even as Lucie was convulsing as if attacked, right in front of her. The family's slaughter was so abrupt and ultraviolent but, too late to assuage our shock, we discover all of them are involved in the torture cult. Is it a sly, mean-spirited comment on how the brutal aspects of the Catholic faith are so readily assimilated into the day to day lives of Catholics? And that, really, the most savage critical evisceration of Catholicism usually comes from currently or formerly faithful Catholics?

I also recommend "Happy Endings" and "Childrens Hospital" -- maybe "Airplane!" -- to overcome the dread.

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The elementary school I went to was called Canadian Martyrs and we learned a lot about martyrdom in class. They made us go to Midland every year to see the Martyr's Shrine. Now the stories we had to learn were not exactly like the film but you know some of them were not that far off. And now that I think about it, it seems pretty twisted to describe torture methods and how withstanding the pain for God made them well martyrs, to 10 year old kids.

I think we were definitely supposed to think Lucie's thing was in her head so that it would make us think for a second that maybe she went to the wrong house. Or that what she said happened to her as a kid never really did. But then then you know, other stuff happened. I'll give you that the parents were implicit so no sympathy for them but the kids are another story. Sins of the father I guess.

[kateln]

Bronze my school did a similiar thing, we also had a 2 week segement in Morality class on Exorcisms, Devil Worship, etc. otherwise known as "kateln doesn't fall asleep until 3:00 am for several weeks at a time" in my memory.

bstewart I have "Airplane!", the complete Pink Panther series, and several bits of classic Mel Brooks to watch. However, the Inquisition dance scene from "History of the World: Part II" may actually make things worse (or just improve everything).

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Oh, cripes, you guys, I'm sorry. I wasn't spoilering my stuff above because the pb iPhone app never displays as spoilered anyway and I didn't think we minded. I'll fix.

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Last night I watched the Mexican horror film We Are What We Are (Somos lo que hay). It is about a family of cannibals who struggle to survive after the father dies unexpectedly. It is not super scary. And it is also not really gory. In fact it starts out as a black comedy. Like pitch black. But it gets more disturbing as it goes along and builds too a nicely intense climax. And it has stayed with me. It reminded me a little of Let The Right One In. I would recommend it for anyone who is a fan of foreign/indie horror. See it before the inevitable English remake. Which is coming apparently.

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If you're up for a scary, edge-of-your-seat little thriller, I recommend the Spanish "Timecrimes", about -- duh -- the perils of time-travel. The English version has some seriously awful dubbing, so if you can grab a subtitled version, I'd recommend it. It's mind-twisty, but I'm sure no one'll get lost. And LOTSA suspense.

[Smilla]

Despite swearing I would never watch it, I gave Guillermo del Torro's Mama a chance today.

Um, holy shit. It was actually almost more funny than scary, but the scary scenes were quite well done. I especially loved the mockery of classic representations of idyllic America--including Jessica Chastain as one very uncomfortable looking impromptu mom (and the heathen forest children trashing up a Normal Rockwell house.)