Review of Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) by Meredith H — 25 Mar 2012

Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet, Hugh Dancy, Maria Dizzia, Julia Garner, John Hawkes, Louisa Krause, Sarah Paulson.

Director: T. Sean Durkin.

Summary: After escaping from a violent cult in rural New York, Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) tries to reconnect with her estranged sister, Lucy (Sarah Paulson), and Lucy's well-to-do husband, Ted (Hugh Dancy), but the brainwashing she endured continues to prevent her from forming an identity of her own. Overwhelmed with paranoia, guilt and shame, Martha isolates herself until Lucy begins to suspect her sister's emotional trauma has deeper underlying causes.

My Thoughts: "Wow. I didn't know quite what to expect with this film, but it was terrifying in a whole new way. This cult thing is so real and very scary. The movie is more of a character study on an individual who escapes a cult and has a hard time mentally leaving it behind. Martha Marcy May Marlene, which ever you want to call her by, is very fragile and confused. It was very interesting seeing her time spent at the cult unfold slowly as she adjusted to being back to normal civilization with her sister. Pacific moments or people would take her back to certain moments spent with the cult. Most of it is tragic and you wonder if she is so traumatized by it and that's why she doesn't speak of it, or if it's her sister she just doesn't want to discuss it with. The ending leaves you wondering and guessing. Is the cult after her? Will they ever catch her, and if maybe she will return on her own? It's a scary thought to process and to think that this stuff happens. A great job by Elizabeth Olsen who will undoubtedly make her own way in this business and not be shadowed by her siblings success. She is a great actress and I can't wait to see her in future films.".