Review of Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) by Jennifer A — 02 Apr 2012

A film about the nature of identity, sexuality, and spirituality, Martha Marcy May Marlene is a as schizophrenic as its title suggests. Following the experiences of a young woman who has escaped from a religious cult commune and gone to live with her sister in an idyllic lake-side house, the film slips from present to past in an often disorienting fashion that mimics the psyche of its protagonist.

. Almost stream of consciousness in its usage of match cuts to move backwards and forwards in time, Martha Marcy May Marlene explores the fragility of human identity, the power of bounds we form with one another, and the inescapable force of environmental conditioning.

Brilliantly filmed, twisted and dark, poignant and unnerving, Martha Marcy May Marlene is that rare blend of drama, thriller, and art-house film that transcends genre to become an unforgettably unsettling portrait of human nature and identity.