Connect with us
Martyr’s Lane is an understated ghostly look at the suppression of human pain
Image: Shudder

Film

Martyr’s Lane is an Understated Ghostly Look at the Suppression of Human Pain

Fantasia 2021: Martyr’s Lane

Martyr’s Lane’s poster would have you believe it to be a film about demon children, akin to the likes of The Exorcist or Pet Sematary. It is ultimately misleading, as what transpires during the film’s 96-minute runtime follows a recent trend of the quieter, more psychological British horror, a-la last year’s excellent Saint Maud, or BAFTA-winning His House.

Leah (Kiera Thompson), is a 10-year-old girl growing up in a Christian household. Suffering from consistent nightmares and trying to cope with her emotionally distant mother Sarah (Denise Gough), she is soon visited by a girl her age during the night, who may have more ties to the family than just a simple midnight talk.

What unfolds over the course of the film is both tragic and disturbing in equal measure, an ambiguous exploration of what grief does to a human, and, more particularly, a mother. Leah seems neglected emotionally by Sarah, who comes across as cold towards her offspring, and mercilessly bullied by her older sister Bex (Hannah Rae), who’s pain comes from not only what has happened in their past but the indifference of the family’s matriarch. The two only receive warmth from their father, Thomas (Steven Cree), who, as a priest, does his best to show love for their children but ultimately appears oblivious to the deeper issues at hand.

Martyr’s Lane
Image: Shudder

The dysfunctional family is hard to watch, but astounding performances prevent the film from being unbearable to watch – far from it. Thompson, in her feature film debut, is incredible for someone so young, and gives a naturalistic portrayal of a child both confused by a lack of comfort from her family and the disrupted sleep she experiences on a daily basis, whilst Gough, on the rise after featuring in films such as Argyris Papadimitrpoulos’ Monday, is able to convey an all-consuming grief with a relatable panic when faced with remembering the past.

Both written and directed by Ruth Platt, Martyr’s Lane is far more interested in hell on earth than in any other realm; bar one moment in which Leah’s nightly visitor grows frustrated with her lack of desire to interact with her, it is more about the pain we experience as humans. “It’s not fire and brimstone”, Leah’s father explains to her one day when discussing hell, “It’s darkness.”. A neat way to sum up the experiences of Sarah’s suffering, but also Leah’s lack of knowledge of her family’s history, as the youngest member of a household that doesn’t discuss the past.

Martyr’s Lane

Deliberately paced, it’s written with delicacy – it’s obvious Platt took great pains to make this family as realistic as possible. There are no sudden outbursts and no bombastic revelations – in fact, it is most likely you’ll cotton on to what’s happening within the first act – but it is a greatly rewarding slow-burn, filled with discomfort (especially as the night time visitor starts to exhibit some bizarre behaviours) and far more intriguing than the more overt ghosts stories we’ve become accustomed to. This is a subtle gem that is worth seeking out. 

The 25th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival will run from August 5 – 25, 2021. Check out our full coverage here.

Written By

Roni Cooper is a twenty-something from the UK who spends her time watching any and every film put in front of her. Her favourites include 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Rear Window', 'Alien' and 'The Thing', and she will watch absolutely anything in which Jessica Chastain stars. When not in front of a screen, be it small or silver, she can be found taking care of her spoilt but adorable dog and refusing to make the move from physical to digital media.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

Trending

Doechii Rocks the Edge — 100 Stories Above New York — With Short But Spicy Set

Celebrity

Ghostface Killah Sets Long-Awaited Classic “Supreme Clientele” Sequel Release Date & It’s Closer Than You Think

Celebrity

Kendrick Lamar Beats Drake For Album Of The Year At The BET Awards

Celebrity

The 10 Scariest Horror Movies Of 2024, Ranked

Film

Celebrities Mentioned During Sean “Diddy” Combs Trial

Culture

Joshua Jackson Asks for Emergency Custody Dispute Because of Daughter’s New School

Culture

Andor Creator Tony Gilroy Doesn’t Consider A Key Rogue One Relationship Canon

Film

Olympic Gold Medalist Tom Daley on His New Documentary, Being a ‘Sounding Board’ for Closeted Queer Athletes and Why Tom Holland Should Play Him in a Movie

Celebrity

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Renewed for Fifth and Final Season

Film

Fat Joe accused of sex acts with minors in $20 million lawsuit filed by former hype man, rapper denies allegations

Celebrity

Tyler Perry Pops Out At Beyonce Show In Paris Amid Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Celebrity

Simon Guobadia Reportedly Deported To Nigeria After Porsha Williams Drama

Celebrity

The Met’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ Reframes Ancient Tragedy Through the Lens of Propaganda

Film

Silento Breaks Silence After Getting Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Killing His Cousin

Celebrity

F1 Review: Brad Pitt’s Sports Drama Has Exciting Racing Scenes And A Bloated Runtime

Film

Eminem’s Stalker Gets Lengthy Prison Sentence For Home Invasion

News

Connect