Martyr!
Based on the first few pages of the book with the same title, this short film brings us into the life of a Cyrus, a queer Iranian-American dealing with depression and addiction who becomes obsessed with the idea of martyrdom.
Why it matters
A raw, intimate descent into obsession and identity that channels psychological horror through the lens of cultural and personal trauma.
- Grounds its dread in the lived experience of a queer Iranian-American grappling with depression and addiction, offering a rare voice in horror’s often whitewashed landscape.
- Uses claustrophobic atmosphere and subtle visual distortions to evoke the fracturing mind rather than cheap jump scares.
- Perfect for fans of slow-burn psychological horror that prioritizes character study over spectacle—think a stripped-down Cronenberg or Ti West with a sharper cultural edge.
- Ambitious for a short film, though its fragmentary source material sometimes leaves narrative threads tantalizingly unresolved—ideal for viewers who appreciate mood and theme over tidy conclusions.
Director
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore 0
Slow Burn 33
Psychological 57
Supernatural 0
Creature 0
Disturbing 0
Fun Factor 17
Cerebral 43
Survival 0
