‘Martyrs’ is listed as a French mystery-horror movie, but to me it’s more like a Horror drama, written and directed by Pascal Laugier. It was first screened during the 2008 Cannes Film Festival at the Marché du Film. The film was released in France publicly on September 3, 2008. The US rights for Martyrs were bought by the Weinstein Company and was released on DVD in April 2009 (I haven’t seen the US DVD, but it might be cut;7min could be missing). I can tell you, it’s one controversial movie; not only for it’s massive realistic gore effects but for it’s kinda sick message. 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 have to keep the plot information as short as possible, because I don’t want to give away too much of the disturbing horror this movie creates while watching. 

Ryan Rotten at shocktillyoudrop.com claims that the film “is the new yard stick against which all forms of extreme genre films should be measured against.” And I totally agree with him, the French Horror cinema developed a new level to scare the shit out of you. There are no clichés, no glamor, no mainstream beauties or teenage parties, no silly jokes or (typical useless) sex scenes , just the all to real shocking truth about the human kind and some of their sickest individuals. Director Laugier said that “the film was rejected by all the big French studios, by a lot of actresses, too. (…) The film was really supported by Canal+, the only television channel in France that stillfinances some unusual projects.” He also comments that the main difficulty other than the technical issues such as special effects was to keep the actresses crying all the time, and that was too demanding. The actresses he is taking about are Morjana Alaoui as Anna and Mylène Jampanoï as Lucie, both of them are doing one hell of a job. They made there characters so believable that it almost hurts to watch them being in these fucked up situations. In my opinion it’s one of the best, most terrifying, well acted and realistic horror movies of the last years, not wasting it with a lame plot solution at the end. This movie’s horror doesn’t come from dark lightning or a slashing killer sneaking around suburban families, but that makes it even scarier. If you’re expecting a French version of ‘HOSTEL’ you’re wrong here, even if there are some similarities (torture/secret organisation) the intension of this movie is a completely different kind. This isn’t a silly ‘watch-with-my-friends’ movie like many horror films these days, this movie will make you think about certain aspects and especially about the end. 

I rate it 9 out of 10 because this one really had the skills to scare me!

Cabin Fever is kind of a tribute to some of the best Horror film of all time. Writer, director and actor Eli Roth did his first film in 2002. The story takes place in a rented cabin deep in the wood, where 5 college students just wanted to party. But they soon fall victim to a flesh-eating virus. The inspiration to the plot came from a real life experience as Eli Roth had taken a trip to Iceland and shaved of his facial skin as a result of a skin infection. Roth wanted the style of his film to make a departure from many modern horror films that had been released in recent years The film itself, however, draws from many of Roth’s favorite horror films, such as The Evil Dead, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Night of the Living Dead. Roth was tired of what he called the “watered down PG-13” horror films of the studios, and refused to compromise on the violence or nudity, saying they were essential ingredients to an ’80s-style horror film.

And he was right! The film really captured the essence of the 80’s - it’a a quite silent horror that spread while watching and Roth had chosen the right characters. The beautiful girl(Cerina Vincent), the nerd (James DeBello), the shy girl (Jordan Ladd, who is also playing in Roth’s ‘Hostel’ and ‘Thanksgiving’ fake Trailer), the asshole boyfriend (perfectly cast Joey Kern) and the best friend boy who wants to get the shy girl (played by Rider Strong who is known from ABC’s ‘Boy Meets World’). The nasty disgusting scenes are always alternated by funny ones; Roth himself said, there always have to be a moment to wipe off your sweaty hands and just laugh! And he did a good job, even when thing get really intense there will still be a smile on your face (if you’re a horror fan) and the end will just knock you down! This movie is one of my favorites, you can see that Eli Roth really loves what he does and the fact that he’s a huge horror film fan! It’s awesome to watch a movie that came from someone who really loves horror and isn’t afraid to make a movie that’s not the typical ‘Mainstream’ shit! This movie isn’t afraid to be a huge Cliché and that really rocks!

I rate this movie 9 out of  10! 

Audition (オーディション Ōdishon^?) is a quite silent one, but the ending is a real shocker. It’s an Japanese Horror movie, directed in 1999 by Takashi Miike, starring Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina. It is based on a Ryu Murakami novel of the same title. Over the years, the film has developed a cult following.

A lonely Japanese widower whose son is planning to move out of the house expresses his sadness to a friend and fellow film producer, who’s inspired to hold an audition for a non-existent film to help the widower find a potential bride from the resulting audition pool. The widower ultimately becomes enamored with and fascinated by one particular very young woman (she looks like his dead wife)…but first impressions can often be horribly wrong.  I’m not going to tell what will happen, you have to find out for yourself. This isn’t the typical horror movie but that make this film even better. You will never forget what you’re going to see in the end and which part of it is real or just a dream!

It can be dangerous to fall for the silent, shy women.

I rate this movie 8/10

The Devil’s Rejects was written and directed by Rob Zombie in 2005. It is the sequel to his 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses. The movie is about the family of psychopathic killers known from the previous film -are leaving a bloody path in the desert on their run from the police. Their brutal and disturbing actions cause bloody consequences. The film has a huge fan community, mostly for its bizarre characters, stylized violence scenes and dialogue. The violence is shown in a realistic way and makes it sometimes hard to watch, not because of the action itself but the way the character showing the fun they have doing these things! Rob Zombie might have fucked up on ‘HALLOWEEN’ but this movie is great. He should stick to this dirty, dusty Texas-Hillbilly style. I like the characters he invented and the lightning on the scenes. Sometimes it’s almost like watching a TV documentary! A real eye catcher this time is Sheri Moon Zombie (Rob Zombies wife)! She shows, that she can act if she wants to. I love the way she can switch from the cute naughty to the killer bitch in just a blink of an eye! Okay, you might say now, this is the typical sick gory killer cliché and in many ways you would be right, the story is simple and the dialogues are not the most intelligent ones but if you’re on the look for one kick ass, filthy, violent road movie with a crazy cast,you just found it!

My rating for this hillbilly killer trip : 7/10

This movie is on my Top 5 Horror movie list!  Hellraiser is a 1987 horror film exploring the themes of pain as a source of pleasure and morality under duress and fear. It is based on the critically acclaimed novel The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. It’s said that Hellraiser is an erotic horror film, but in my opinion an obsessive love is the biggest issue. A man experienced all the thrills and is looking for the ultimate satisfaction, hoping to find it in a beautiful and mysterious puzzlebox, which should contain the ultimate experience in pleasure, once opened. But it’s hell he finds inside. Being tortured there he’s trying to find a way out, with the help of his once-upon-a-time mistress! And she’s doing everything to supply his need of flesh to recover! But Hell doen’t give up on a lost soul so easy….and Pinhead isn’t the forgiving type! The Pinhead character wasn’t the major role in the movie but became one of the most famous horror figures of all time!

This movie is a little bit disturbing, if you see it for the first time, and yes sex, lust and getting pleasure out of pain are major issues but it’s one of the best surreal horror film of the 80’s! It also shows the destructive power of love and makes yourself  questioning : How far would YOU get….  for love…. for pleasure….or the ultimate thrill…….

My rating for this movie is 9/10 !

It’s the next chapter of the torture tale from writer-director Eli Roth which came out 2007. This time three female American college students studying abroad are lured to a Slovakian hostel and spa, and discover the grim reality behind it. The story from part I continues without a break and makes the first HOSTEL better this way. This time we see behind the mask of the sick organisation and it’s clients. And this time you will see a ‘Final-girl’ who isn’t just surviving…..I’m not spoiling but boys: cross your legs on this one!

What else can I say about this movie then just: FUCK YEAH, ELI YOU DID IT!!!! Thinking about the first ‘HOSTEL’, I have to say I was a little bit disappointed, all this discussions about the ‘most shocking film ever’ and then it was over, just when it was getting interesting! But Eli Roth wouldn’t be the bad ass he is, if he hadn’t put it to the next level - and to say it with the Bear Jew: “Eli fuckin’ Roth knocks it out of the park! All the Horror Fans on their feet for Eli! Fuckin’ horror movie genius!” He also has some of the best Horror movie icons to do their cameos.(if you know them, you know that I mean). And just for the record, anyone who says Eli Roth made a misogynistic movie can kiss my ass! You haven’t understood this movie, buddy! I am a woman and I say Eli has written the best Final-Girl role ever seen on the big screen!

I rate this movie 100/100!!!!!!

Inside (À l’intérieur) is one of my new favorites! It’s an uncompromising french horror film directed in 2007 by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, staring Alysson Paradis and Béatrice Dalle. It was written by co-director Alexandre Bustillo, and is the first film from either director. It concerns the attack and home-invasion of a young pregnant woman by a mysterious stranger who seeks to take her unborn baby. If you think you’ve seen it all - I hold the bet, you haven’t!! This is one sick basterd of a movie - the story is quite simple, yes - but the pictures will haunt you! The new future in disgusting horror comes from France, there are no boundaries, no limits and I swear no teenagers running around. This is the pure evil on screen and you will drown in gallons on fake blood, but in a serious believable way, that’s what makes this movie so creepy under your skin! Happy End or Desperation??? Find it out yourself!

I rate this movie 8/10

This movie is rated R for violence, gore ,…….

OMG - that’s all I can say first! If you haven’t seen the Evil Dead saga, you don’t know horror at all. These are the must-see movies for any horror fan! Sam Raimi directed the 1th film ‘The Evil Dead’ in 1981 and shocked the whole world (hardly surprising, no one ever showed a tree that rapes a girl before, right??) A demonic power is unleashed when a bunch of young adults listen to a diabolic tape and reading out loud satanic phrases from the Nicronomicon (a book written in blood on human skin), both found in the rented cabin in the woods. After a night of death and survival terror you will see why there’s a second and a third film - because it’s even more fun from now on. Evil Dead 2 has more gore but also more fun, directed in 1987, Sam Raimi doesn’t take it to serious this time, you’re going to laugh -Promise! The final chapter is called ‘Evil Dead 3 aka The Army of Darkness’  Ash is caught in the medieval war between the good and the evil, on the search for the Necronomicon and his final battle against the demonic powers that have risen once again (as you might have guessed).The main character who stars in all 3 films is Ash played by the wonderful, handsome and funny Bruce Campbell- a man who does what has to be done, sometimes words are not enough, so he has to use his chainsaw; that argument will count! And his charms with the ladies are legendary, so boys remember the line we want to hear: “Give me some sugar baby!”

My ratings ‘The Evil Dead’ get 8/10  -‘The Evil Dead 2’ get 9/10 -

‘Army of Darkness’ gets 10/10

The one and only original, not this ‘want-to-be-Halloween’ of Rob Zombie, no offence ,but Rob, stop trying to top something that’s already the best! John Carpenter’s classic horror flick directed in 1978 is about a psychic killer Michael Myers who murdered his sister at the age of 6 and escaped the psychiatric ward 15 years later, right before Halloween just to do, what he does best - slashing teenagers! On the search for his lost sister Laurie Strode -played by the unforgettable final girl and scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis!!! The famous haunting score by Carpenter himself and the breathing behind the mask, makes this one the definition of classic bogeyman horror!

For the record-: Halloween gets 10 out of 10 in my rating!

One of my all time favorites. 9/10

Nightmare On Elm Street was directed by Wes Craven in 1984.  Set in the fictional Midwestern town of Springwood, Ohio, the plot revolves around several teenagers being terrorized in their nightmares by the ghost of a serial child murderer named Freddy Krueger, who was killed by the parents of the murdered children years before. Who can forget Johnny Depp being pulled in this bed and a huge spout of blood was all that came back!

I’m not sure yet whether I’m going to watch the remake that should screen in April 2010, but one thing I know for sure there will never be another Freddy Kruger for me than Robert Englund - he’s the one and only Freddy!

This movie is rated R for gore, violence and mature content!