User reviews

No spooky monsters or slahser murderers in this movie.

Just a well crafted mystery movie with great actors.

The pieces of the puzzles are not being rubbed in your face (like in Hollywood "horror" movies), but being handed out tothe viewer to put them together in their head, to be completed.

Well done!

I found the movie to be very good, the acting of the main protagonist was formidable for her young age. It's a slow burn, demands patience, but delivers an emotional finale.

I wouldn't recommend it for the scary part, specially if you are a hardcore horror fan, but if you like movies with a gloomy, dark atmosphere, mystery and ghosts, you might enjoy this one!

7/10!

Good one. It's not a typical jumpscare film - working much better as a drama with a strong atmosphere- and thank god for that, because reading the plot I was thinking "just another generic ghost story".

The acting from the main children is absolutely incredible, so realistic, so credible. The relationships in the family very distinct and well crafted. The good vs evil vs grey area always there. Emotionally very strong and very well shot. It's a bit predictable, but it's a really good story avoiding a lot of clichés.

The two little girls' acting skills elevate an already engrossing story into excellence. The plot is not unique, but the production is so well done and the characters so engaging that it feels new and different.

I thought that this was a very good movie .The pace was a bit slow but the acting by these 2 talented young girls was quite brilliant .

Not a bad film, just boring and actually a little bit sad to watch.

Very nicely executed supernatural thriller about a young girl who experiences ghostly goings on in her new home.

There's effective details in this one, as the mystery is slowly revealed by way of smalls clues that bit by bit complete the central puzzle. The main event being a little girl who visits the protagonist in the dead of night and tells her the location of items to be collected. Acting, in particular by the two young actresses, is excellent.

Subtle, yet involving stuff.

As much as many horror genre fans hate to admit it, ghosts stories are deeply spiritual.

There's has been a resurgence of interest in the ghost story as an exploration of mortality in recent years. Films such as The Dark and the Wicked, Saint Maud and Relic for example all address death and loss almost exclusively as a spiritual experience.

In Martyrs Lane, all the usual Horror tropes are stripped bare, leaving only the only true significance of any ghost story; a contemplation on death.

It occasionally makes for some uncomfortable viewing. Perhaps one of the more successful aspects of this story was the way it incorporated faith and religion.

I think we've grown used to seeing the religion as some kind of superpower in the fight against demonic possession, here through, faith is effectively powerless as an instrument of change.

The acting performances and direction are incredible.

This is a touching exploration of our place in the world, our existence and a powerful reminder of how short our time on earth can me.

As a lover of horror and specifically the sub genre of ghosts/haunted house films I was looking forward to this heavily hyped movie. Unfortunately it didn't deliver. Here's what you won't get:

1 - Any developed characters with dimension.

2 - Emotional connections that draw you in.

3 - A new story or a new spin on an old one.

4 - Technical competence.

Martyrs Lane is a clumsily told, simplistic story without scares. If I wasn't a lover of the genre I'd have to drop it's score to three.

Should the director of this film (or you the reader) like examples of what can be done when looking to create a touching tale of ghosts I'd suggest 'The Changeling (1980) which is the high water mark against which it's competition should be judged and The Orphanage. There are many others as well. Martyr's Lane is a forgettable genre misstep.

The movie ran a little bit on the slow side, but maintained it's creepy atmosphere. Its not a bad story line but It's very British. I'm a firm believer that you have to be both like and understand the dry British wit, humor, and culture to enjoy any British film. A lot of Americans don't have that ability. Case in point, the reviewer from earlier this evening who gave the film 1 star and stopped watching because of a black female Bishop. For his, and everyone's information, the church represented in the movie is not the Roman Catholic Church. It's the Anglican Church of England. In the jolly ol C of E, they began ordaining their first women into the priesthood in 1994. So, it is entirely possible that they have a Bishop whom is both female and black. The C of E also allows their priests to get married and have families. So it is also very possible that the girls father is a priest in good standing. Despite all that. With any horror movie it's a good rule of thumb not to think too deeply or take it too seriously and try to enjoy the scary stuff.

If you want lots going on, a quick pace & jump scares galore, this will not be for you. If however, an eerie slow build, well done for the budget & with really excellent child performances ticks some boxes, this is definitely worth a watch.

The stand out here are the central performances of the 2 child actors, both are great finds with the little angel giving tour de force eeriness for her young years. Naturally good child actors don't come along that often in the UK, so these 2 could have an amazing career in acting, if that's what they want.

Very competently made, which doesn't sound like a compliment, but very much is, when compared to other films at this level, it's way above most of its competition.

A slow creeping dread, rather than big jumps, but it's all the better for that, so take a stroll down Martyr's Lane, if you dare.

A below average movie in term of script, seems a waste of time.

They really need to label movies correctly, because there really wasn't much horror in this movie. It's a mystery and a ghost tale. But I really liked it and the 2 main child actresses were Wonderful! Rachel made me think of what Nicole Kidman probably looked like as a little girl. And Leah, who carried most of this movie, is Amazing with her emotional range and I think will be someone to watch, as her star may rise, if she continues acting.

I Love Gothic horror, or in this case ghost stories. And I love the scenes with the Minister, Leah's Father in the church talking about Heaven and Hell. I knew Right Away, it wasn't a Catholic Church. LOL I thought it was just lovely how he discussed this subject with his young daughter.

I related a lot to Leah, even the bunny scene, sadly. I loved her room and what seemed like a Byzantine Era angel artwork above her bed. And I've always loved and been familiar with Hebrews13:2 since I was a small girl. And try to follow it all my life. Wish more people in this world would too.

Anyhoo... If your here for a slow moving, mystery, drama, that's wrapped in a ghost story with some likable characters (and some Not so likable) and don't want a Gore-fest. Then you may like this movie.

If you have no empathy for others and the attention span of a mayfly, Then I suggest you MOVE ON!! ;D.

I believe that it currently holds such a low score because it has been mislabeled as a horror movie. It is a supernatural drama with some thriller elements. It's about a little girl who by taking something, which did not belong to her, awakens the past, both literally and metaphorically. While it is predictable, it is not about the mystery and the whole plot unravels very well, with quite a few nuanced moment.

Also, it's rather important to note that the kid actors were very decent.

A pretty good movie, it was more sad than scary. Definitely made me cry. Once you realise the premise of this movie, you'll definitely see the whole picture. It's a slow burn but worth watch until the ending.

This is the story of a parson and his family living in a parsonage with all kinds of woods and fields and barns and sheds and people and animals; a healthy country life, except everyone in the family has a cloud hovering over them, even the kids. Amidst all this sturm and drang the youngest member of the family is starting to get visits at night from a little girl who calls herself a guardian angel, right there at her second floor window a little girl hovers until she's asked in. This flick is a little too slow and there is almost nil suspense; what happens next barely matters. It is a prettily shot movie.