An aimless young woman, Martha (Elisabeth Olsen) falls into the arms of a cult, led by the unassuming, quietly charismatic leader, Patrick (John Hawkes). Though we’re denied the exact context of how this young woman initially strayed into the belly of the beast, Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) is an impressive achievement; a well-honed, slow-burn drama that pulsates with an increasing level of dread.
Sean Durkin’s debut feature splits into two time strands that almost seem to merge on occasion with Martha’s slow uneasy reunion with her older sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and brother in law (Hugh Dancy) interwoven with echoes from the past via the stages of her indoctrination into the cult’s most trusted circle.
Martha finds it increasingly difficult to readjust to her new freedom in the lavish surrounds of her sister’s enormous home. The associations and social conditioning of life in a submissive community begin to inappropriately bleed into her behaviour, causing a massive strain on her relationship with Lucy.
You could argue that not a great deal really ‘happens’ in Martha Marcy May Marlene, and though it may be devoid of set-pieces, the accumulation of minor details is what gives the film its flinty conviction. The expectation of confrontation as the past meticulously catches up with the present creates a genuine tension, an undercurrent that acts like a sustained pitch of electrical energy.
She may bear a strong physical resemblance to her more famous older sisters but Olsen proves to be an intriguing fresh face and genuinely talented too. The entire cast is flawless actually, all appropriately underplaying their roles the one moment of histrionic emotional reaction is reserved for the maximum impact it offers.
I say:
A superbly understated drama that gets under the skin long before you’re even aware of it.
See it for:
For the work of Olsen and the icy control of the always superb Hawkes.
For more movies like Martha Marcy May Marlene 2011 visit Hurawatch.
Also watch: