What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMartyrs
Pascal Laugier · Film · 2008
If you loved Martyrs, start with Martyrs (Joyce M. Davis, 2015) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Martyrs across media.
If Martyrs left you shaken, you are likely drawn to stories where the lasting trauma of systemic abuse demands a brutal reckoning.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium Trilogy)
Stieg Larsson · Book · 2010
Explores: corruption, conspiracy, abuse of power.
Like the relentless pursuit of justice in Martyrs, this narrative explores the dark intersection of institutional corruption and the personal quest for vengeance against those who inflict profound suffering.
The House of My Mother
Shari Franke · Book
Explores: familial abuse, cult-like dynamics, survivor testimony.
This memoir mirrors the harrowing reality of the abuse depicted in Martyrs, focusing on the survivor's struggle to process institutionalized trauma and the devastating impact of cult-like family dynamics.
The Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Explores: Resourcefulness, Human Ingenuity, Isolation.
If Martyrs hit, The Martian shares the thread.
The Exorcist
William Peter Blatty · Book · 1971
Shares a thread with Martyrs: Loss of Innocence.
The Exorcist captures the same visceral dread and loss of innocence found in Martyrs, grounding its existential horror in the agonizing physical and spiritual suffering of a young victim.
Series on the same thread
The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
Series · 2024
Shares 2 threads with Martyrs: Child Abuse, Cults.
This documentary delves into the institutional abuse that haunts Martyrs, offering a real-world look at the systemic horrors of the troubled teen industry and the long-term trauma of survivors.
Sharp Objects
Marti Noxon · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Small Town Secrets, Dysfunctional Family.
Much like the protagonist in Martyrs, Camille must confront the buried psychological demons of her past, revealing how deep-seated trauma manifests through the secrets of a broken, dysfunctional environment.
Monster
Series · 2004
Explores: Moral Dilemma, Existentialism, Nature vs. Nurture.
This series explores the darker side of human nature and moral corruption, echoing the existential despair and the complex, disturbing power dynamics that define the narrative of Martyrs.
The Glory
Kim Eun-sook · Series · 2022
Explores: Bullying, Revenge, Social Inequality.
The Glory mirrors the central revenge arc of Martyrs, focusing on a woman systematically dismantling the lives of those who subjected her to horrific, life-altering abuse during her youth.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Magnus Archives
Podcast
Shares a thread with Martyrs: Existential Horror.
The Magnus Archives taps into the same existential dread and esoteric horror found in Martyrs, inviting you to investigate the terrifying, hidden forces that govern human suffering and fear.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
If Martyrs hit, My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Martyrs based on a book?
Yes, there is a book titled Martyrs released in 2015. While the 2008 film directed by Pascal Laugier depicts a young woman's quest for revenge following childhood abuse, the 2015 book serves as a literary adaptation of the same source material.
What order should I consume the Martyrs titles in?
You can experience these titles in any order as they share the same source material. The 2008 film focuses on a terrifying journey of revenge and depravity, while the 2015 book provides a separate adaptation of the narrative involving the two victims of child abuse.
Does the Martyrs book differ from the 2008 film?
Both the 2008 film and the 2015 book titled Martyrs are based on the same core story regarding a woman seeking revenge against her childhood kidnappers. While the mediums differ, both versions explore the same dark journey into a living hell of depravity.
Is the 2008 Martyrs movie a standalone story?
The 2008 film Martyrs is a complete narrative that follows a young woman and her best friend as they seek revenge for their childhood trauma. It is a self-contained story, though the source material was also adapted into a book titled Martyrs in 2015.