"Martha Marcy May Marlene" is an excellent art house psychological thriller. From first-time writer / director Sean Durkin, the film is the story of Martha (Elizabeth Olsen), a young woman who, as the film opens, has just escaped from a cult in upstate New York. Martha gets in touch with her sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson), who takes her in, but it quickly becomes apparent that Martha's mental state has been seriously damaged. The film alternates between Martha trying to adjust to life with Lucy and her husband Ted (Hugh Dancy) and flashbacks to Martha's time living with the cult led by the enigmatic but terrifying Patrick (John Hawkes). As the film progresses the line between what is real and what is imagined in Martha's mind is increasingly blurred.
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" is absolutely an actors' film. There is of course a message to be taken about the effects of brainwashing and what despicable people will do with power...in the case of Patrick, a power that he has given himself by starting this cult. Durkin paces the film well, which is essential in such a minimalist picture as this one...there is no action whatsoever, and there are plenty of moments of silence to go along with the dialogue. But the real showcase is the performances, lead by Elizabeth Olsen. This is Olsen's first major film role, and she is a revelation. Most of her scenes, whether spoken or silent, are quietly introspective as Martha is a woman who clearly has lost her way in life, and Olsen captures this essence of Martha's character perfectly. But Durkin's script also gives her a couple of showstoppingly dramatic scenes, and she never veers into overacting as much as these are just the times when Martha is completely broken down and can't handle her situation any longer. This is an absolute star-making performance, much like the one Jennifer Lawrence turned in in last year's similarly atmospheric art house drama "Winter's Bone." Hawkes is also utterly terrific as Patrick. Between this performance and his turn as the meth-addicted Teardrop in "Winter's Bone," Hawkes has brought to life two of the most terrifying screen characters of the last two years. What makes Patrick terrifying though isn't just the things that he does, which are horrible, but his demeanor throughout. Only once does he even raise his voice, but clearly this is an evil, despicable man who simply does what he wants because he enjoys it, and because he has all his young followers enslaved to his presence.
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" is a film that will almost assuredly benefit from repeat viewings, as the film takes a few twists and turns in what ultimately becomes an explosive third act. The lines between reality and fear-induced paranoia in Martha's mind are so blurred by the end that even I as an audience member wasn't entirely sure whether a few instances near the end were real or not. Perhaps there is no right answer and we're means to be as confused as Martha is. But I don't view this as a weakness as much as a thought-provoking climax to an excellent drama.
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" is rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content, nudity, and language.
Running time: 102 minutes.
Released domestically on October 21, 2011, by Fox Searchlight Pictures.
3 stars out of 4.
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