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<title>blogTO Recent Comments: At Midnight: Martyrs</title>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/feed/recentcomments/?11548</link>
<description>Comments recently made in this post on blogTO</description>
<copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:13:07 PST</lastBuildDate>
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<title>e</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I think I'm miss-using the term bored again, and really should be more desensitized, as I'm not meaning to used "bored" in a bad way. The overall impact of the film was very strong, and it really did get me thinking.

The beating scene was very intense, yet for the most part - it kept the same level of intensity. The repetitive nature of it, without it escalating for so long is what 'numbs' you to it. Instead of having a series of increasingly horrific ways to torture her, it kept the same tone for the most part.

However, what did change was her reaction to the beatings - and that is what really gave it impact. I think we are sort of arguing for the same point on this one, I just think I didn't express myself clearly above.

Then, when they did escalate things - it was done with a purpose, and with a twist. I was expecting them to do to her, what they did to the girl that she had initially found. I almost groaned for a second thinking "that would be so cheesy", yet the direction that they ended up taking it really impressed me.

Anne, was not "seeing" things - no dead girls, no cockroaches on the walls - so instead of binding her in the helmet to prevent her from seeing anything as they did with the previous girl, they took her one level further.

Like I said, "bored" is the wrong term - as the over all impact was a very effective one, and one that has had me thinking about the movie all day - both in terms of the physical brutality of it, but also 'reading between the frames' and something to think about and chew on.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309603</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309603</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:55:09 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Munzz</title>
<description><![CDATA[
in reply to the post above:

What you said about the last part of the films is actually what, in my opinion, makes the film great. It did not copy all the other horror films and over-use the element of shock in every single second of the film. Rather, it delved deeper into the philosophy of suffering and pain and essentially life itself. It gave us something to think about which is more than what we could have asked for. 

To me that is not boring. The film kept a great balance between shocking its audience and making them think. that is called a good film.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309579</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309579</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:39:43 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>e</title>
<description><![CDATA[
To me, the 20 or so minute beating scene wasn't so much torture porn. It wasn't really done in a way to thrill the audience, more so than to numb them.

Initially, you have that bit of shock/horror at the situation, you have a good idea of where it's going to go, and the beatings evoke a few gasps here and there. But then eventually, for me at least - you get desensitized to them. They no longer become shocking or horrific. 

For me, this also came at about the same point that Anne started to accept it - you can see the change in her character. From fighting what is happening, to accepting it.

It sort of puts you into the same head space that they are putting the character through to some extent. Initially, I was almost bored by it by about halfway through, but as the movie wrapped up, then reflecting back on the movie after - I think it played out pretty well and thought it was well executed.

(going to try avoid spoilers ...)

To me, this is further reinforced once they put her into the rig and start to hrmm, put the knife into her. Instead of her screaming in agony - which would have been more shocking and difficult to watch, but not as powerful. She simply lets out a gasp - and it almost didn't even seem to be a gasp of pain. Then, seeing what the end result of that scene was, and the disconnect in her eyes, and almost the weird combination of serenity and horror.

Either way, I thought the movie was very effective at what it was doing, and it has left me mulling over it / thinking about it all day. It has me thinking between the lines of just the physical violence on the screen. It made me think, and has caused quite a bit of discussion between me and my friends and other people that have seen it - any movie that can do that, is worth seeing at least once IMO.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309575</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309575</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:25:15 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Kate</title>
<description><![CDATA[
umm weird half double post - sorry about that]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309516</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309516</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:03:45 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Kate</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Munzz - I did pay attention, maybe instead of explainable I should have used convincing. I didn't buy the reasons given by the evil gran character and didn't think they were explored or explained enough to warrant the last half hour. It just didn't hold my interest. Glad you enjoyed though. I'm looking forward to the remaining 3. the line-up this year has been pretty strong and pleasantly diverse.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309515</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309515</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:02:43 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Kate</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Munzz - I did maybe instead of explainable I should have used convincing. I didn't buy the reasons given by the evil gran charcter and didn't think they were explored enough to warrant the time spent.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309512</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309512</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:58:34 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Jerrold</title>
<description><![CDATA[
To me, someone vomiting from watching a film is reason not to go :P]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309510</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309510</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:42:34 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Munzz</title>
<description><![CDATA[
"no real explainable reason."

did you really pay attention to the plot? because the reason was explained pretty clearly towards the end.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309506</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309506</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:35:58 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Kate</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Meh.
It was like there were two different films: one a Euro-take on J horror, which was pretty interesting if not a bit overdone and another in which a girl gets beaten up and made into a cenobite for no real explainable reason. I think it may have been oversold to me but not the high-tension cataclysmic ride I was hoping for. Possibly redeemable if there was something a bit more thoughtful going on ? L'interieur style but in this film, I couldn't find it.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309502</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309502</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:28:07 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Adam</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Wow, the comment above is enough alone to make me want to see this one. I smell a challenge :)]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309493</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309493</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:52:19 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Munzz</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I was there last night. It was the most disturbing film Ive ever seen. The girl in front of us threw up and left lol I dont think I've ever heard of anyone throwing up because of a film. as Colin Geddes said "can I see a musical now?"

I thought film held itself up pretty well.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309467</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/toronto_film_festival_2008/2008/09/at_midnight_martyrs/#c309467</guid>
<category>Toronto, Toronto Film Festival 2008</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:30:37 PDT</pubDate>
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