One of my worst fears have come true, the remake of the classic French horror film, Martyrs, is finally going to be released to the public on January 22, 2016. And with this revelation comes an awfully vague trailer, stripping the very fabric of its origins. Starring Pretty Little Liars’ Troian Bellisario and from True Blood, Baily Noble, it will most likely be audiences who will become the true martyrs when all is said and done.

Necessity comes to mind while watching this teaser. Much like the American remake of Oldboy, The Grudge, or The Ring, there is only one rational possibility as to why this remake of Martyrs exists. That reason being: to appease audiences who do not favor foreign films and have heard the great many things Martyrs beholds, thus capitalizing on the laziness of said demographic.

It isn’t without stats to back it up. Ju-on‘s original U.S. release in 2004 earned $325 thousand domestically from 11 theaters, while its American remake, The Grudge, earned $110.3 million in over 3,300 theaters that same year. The U.S. remake of Ringu, The Ring, saw a $129 million haul at the box office domestically in 2002.

However, the exact negative effect has been seen with the most recent 2013 remake of the Korean thriller Oldboy. The original made a little over $700 thousand across 28 theaters in its U.S. release, while the remake nabbed a mere $2.19 million in 583 theaters. Not quite the return on investment the studios were hoping for. Which leads me to believe the same will happen with a similarly abstract film such as Martyrs, especially with how vicious and unforgiving the original is.

If you think the American trailer is too coy, the trailer for the 2008 French film provides a little more context, but also hints at its brutal nature. Be forewarned, this trailer is NSWF:

Extended commentary:

• Just because it is a dark movie doesn’t mean you have to shoot it that way.
• I think the actresses will do fine, with what’s presented to them, which probably isn’t much based on what I see in the trailer.
• The MPAA will definitely have an influence on this remake as most American audiences wouldn’t be able to stomach the French version.
• This production feels like such a waste of time and effort.

Here’s the official plot synopsis of Martyrs, courtesy of Anchor Bay Films:

Ten-year-old Lucie flees from the isolated warehouse where she has been held prisoner. Deeply traumatized, she is plagued by awful night terrors at the orphanage that takes her in. Her only comfort comes from Anna, a girl her own age. Nearly a decade later and still haunted by demons, Lucie finally tracks down the family that tortured her. As she and Anna move closer to the agonizing truth, they find themselves trapped in a nightmare – if they cannot escape, a martyr’s fate awaits them…

Directed by Kevin Goetz and Michael Goetz, Martyrs stars Baily Noble, Troian Bellisario, Kate Burton, and Blake Robbins. The film is set to arrive in theaters on January 22, 2016. It will also be On Demand and also available on Blu-ray and DVD on February 2, 2016.

Source: FilmTrailerZone