Child death always leaves you feeling sad, no matter how good the story. The two little leads were great. Beautiful, smart little girls. For the person that didn't understand it, Rachel was the middle sister if not Bex twin I think, Lilith's son hit her with the car and killed her. The mother never spoke of it again and Bex was mean because she had trouble coping as well. The little boy belonged to the lady that was passing through, she only stayed a couple of nights, that was explained. Once Leah took the lock of hair it woke up Rachel's spirit and she wanted to be heard. So she came to Leah to tell her the story. And her death upset the mother so bad she went into early labor, that's why Leah was born early. When she asks "are you going to tell dad?" She meant "are you going to tell him about Racheals ghost?" It was a good movie and played out well.
54 Reviews
Well crafted mystery thriller/drama
cofffey16 September 2021
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!
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!
A bit predictable but really liked it
PedroPires9016 September 2021
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 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.
NOT scary, just sad
bkgseoul11 September 2021
Very good dramatic ghost movie
gpradodemarco20 September 2021
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!
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!
Disappointing
vanvance12 September 2021
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.
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.
I liked It
marcusdavis4012 September 2021
below average script but good acting by child artist
yamahapic26 September 2021
A contemplative study of mortality.
richardwworkman18 September 2021
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.
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.
I didn't understand anything..
JaneBingley12 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It was a bit spooky in places. But I have so many questions..
I am not some teen with short attentionspan, but I am a boomer.
Who was Rachel? Who was the decaying girl?
When the mum told Leah that she (Leah) was born too early, Leah said "Did you tell dad?" Why wouldn't he know that his daughter was born early?
Who was the baby boy we see now and again?
Why was Sarah mad at Lillian's son in law?
Why was the big sister so nasty?
A lovely movie, just too bad it flew over my head.
Who was Rachel? Who was the decaying girl?
When the mum told Leah that she (Leah) was born too early, Leah said "Did you tell dad?" Why wouldn't he know that his daughter was born early?
Who was the baby boy we see now and again?
Why was Sarah mad at Lillian's son in law?
Why was the big sister so nasty?
A lovely movie, just too bad it flew over my head.
Not a bad ghost flick for a British film
gunmetalblue12 September 2021
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.
Very nicely executed supernatural thriller
Red-Barracuda30 August 2021
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.
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.
Slow and nebulous
killercharm20 August 2022
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.
Loved this movie.
hynfpyg5 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This movie kept me thinking for days. The acting was exceptional especially the two little girls. I watched this movie with my dad and both of us could not figure out what all the teeth on top of the cabinet were all about. If someone has any thoughts on this we would love some input.
Fell asleep watching this movie. Thought it was a horror movie, it definitely isn't
Neptune16527 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Why Lia never shared that what's happening with her mom why she stay sad why Lia hear some sounds and when her mother saw her dead daughter why she didn't asked help to her husband . If the director would have given some sparkles then this movie could become a master piece. Awful movie! Works as sleep medicine! Watch something else.
Excellent Little Chiller
heratyplant7 November 2021
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.
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.
Truth Truth Lie
nogodnomasters17 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Leah (Kiera Thompson) lives in a large home near the wood's edge. Her father is Father Thomas (Steven Cree) at the local church. Her sister Bex (Hannah Rae) teases her and her mother Lillian (Anastasia Hille) has a cool relationship with Leah. Lillian wears a locket that peaks the interest of Leah. A guardian angel visits Leah at night and tells her where lost items are located, playing a game. Leah took what was in her mother's locket and lost it.
The story was better than what was portrayed on the screen. Ruth Platt is a better writer than director, at least in this film. The scenes dragged on and I kept yelling at the screen, "Get to the point already!"
Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.
The story was better than what was portrayed on the screen. Ruth Platt is a better writer than director, at least in this film. The scenes dragged on and I kept yelling at the screen, "Get to the point already!"
Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.
Decent and emotional
xmmx-2087713 September 2021
Worst Movie
spoiledtiffany26 September 2021
Not Horror, more of a heartbreaking, haunting ghost story.
midnitepantera1 May 2022
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 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.
Bad attempt at "Let the right one in" kind of film
petarilic3212 October 2021
I wish I could say anything nice about this movie but it's very hard to. I guess there were a few eerie scenes between the two girls. That's about it.
Plot is super predictable at all times but that's not the main issue. Not even close. Plot is super boring and you lose interest pretty early on. This is coming from someone who appreciates slow burn style that lasts far longer than this did.
Characters behave in a very unusual way for no apparent reason and it never gets explained why aside from her mother. Dialogue is dull. Script is super bad. Cheap jump scares made me want to stop watching.
Nothing cinematographic, nothing visual, no soundtrack to back it up, no scary scenes. Absolutely nothing.
For those claiming it's an "emotional film", you have to be kidding me. There's zero(0) emotional involvement into characters from start to finish. Characters never get any development and there's nothing to relate to.
Beware of good reviews. Trickster: 100 A very generous 2/10.
Plot is super predictable at all times but that's not the main issue. Not even close. Plot is super boring and you lose interest pretty early on. This is coming from someone who appreciates slow burn style that lasts far longer than this did.
Characters behave in a very unusual way for no apparent reason and it never gets explained why aside from her mother. Dialogue is dull. Script is super bad. Cheap jump scares made me want to stop watching.
Nothing cinematographic, nothing visual, no soundtrack to back it up, no scary scenes. Absolutely nothing.
For those claiming it's an "emotional film", you have to be kidding me. There's zero(0) emotional involvement into characters from start to finish. Characters never get any development and there's nothing to relate to.
Beware of good reviews. Trickster: 100 A very generous 2/10.
Good ghost story
0ffworlder13 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The young actors really carried this. The lead who played Leah showed a lot of emotion and character for such a young actor. I think the mom died in the end to. That's why they were moving. And she sees her playing the piano and why they do not show her face again. Check it out.it's a slow burn. My type. No jump scares.
Non vivam
begob13 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A little girl steals a mysterious keepsake from her mother, only to awaken the past ...
Supernatural tale that reaches for the mysterium from several religious angles, while playing out a mystery of the unquiet grave. The performance of the protagonist is excellent, and the two little girls mix the charm and tension of their encounters just right. The story is melancholy, which is reflected in some beautiful music, and so the pace is sedate despite sophisticated editing.
Cinematography was occasionally interesting, with one over the head pan that introduced an upside down world - that one seemed set for a genuine scare but fizzled out. The few little jump scares should have been dialled up, as adrenalin does help with this kind of story.
The biblical relationship that provides the girls' names is adapted from husband-wife to mother-daughter; a theme of buried relics is carried by the history of ejected monks; and the boundary of life and death runs through the title of a Latin hymn. But for all the well observed religious references, the most effective metaphor is the mirror world, nicely emphasized in the resolution after the climax; and the driver of the plot is the sequence of macabre games the girls play.
For me there were a few dramatic problems. The story hinged on the concealment of an incident that would ordinarily have been explained already to a child of that age - after all, she had been through her own brush with death. And there seemed to be several moments of misdirection to heighten the uncertainty, which added further dissatisfaction as this was the only element that provided the father with dramatic purpose. Second, the reveal came through exposition in a speech and a flashback, which doesn't make for a great movie moment. Finally, the climax raised a religious difficulty that wasn't resolved.
Overall: Well produced supernatural elegy, but the script probably needed one more trip through the shredder.
Supernatural tale that reaches for the mysterium from several religious angles, while playing out a mystery of the unquiet grave. The performance of the protagonist is excellent, and the two little girls mix the charm and tension of their encounters just right. The story is melancholy, which is reflected in some beautiful music, and so the pace is sedate despite sophisticated editing.
Cinematography was occasionally interesting, with one over the head pan that introduced an upside down world - that one seemed set for a genuine scare but fizzled out. The few little jump scares should have been dialled up, as adrenalin does help with this kind of story.
The biblical relationship that provides the girls' names is adapted from husband-wife to mother-daughter; a theme of buried relics is carried by the history of ejected monks; and the boundary of life and death runs through the title of a Latin hymn. But for all the well observed religious references, the most effective metaphor is the mirror world, nicely emphasized in the resolution after the climax; and the driver of the plot is the sequence of macabre games the girls play.
For me there were a few dramatic problems. The story hinged on the concealment of an incident that would ordinarily have been explained already to a child of that age - after all, she had been through her own brush with death. And there seemed to be several moments of misdirection to heighten the uncertainty, which added further dissatisfaction as this was the only element that provided the father with dramatic purpose. Second, the reveal came through exposition in a speech and a flashback, which doesn't make for a great movie moment. Finally, the climax raised a religious difficulty that wasn't resolved.
Overall: Well produced supernatural elegy, but the script probably needed one more trip through the shredder.
Writhing and directing is simple
tariqma200210 November 2021
The movie contains many illogical and unexplained events.. Horror movies, even if they have a fantasy part, but their events must be somewhat reasonable.. But this movie was in the world of absurdity.. Children performed in the movie was better than adults.. Photography, sound, music, and makeup levels were Less than what should to be , this is because horror films depend a lot on the efficiency of these elements.. the story was simple, unwoven and without connotation, and the directing is simple.
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