Martha Marcy May Marlene

Sean Durkin's first feature is quite the trip. Durkin's sensibility as a director shines with this film, and shows undeniable promise. The really crazy thing about this film is that it's quietness is only juxtaposed by the really messed up things that are happening in the plot. An intriguing analytical mess of reality, memory, and fantasy, Martha Marcy May Marlene is about a paranoia, an extreme desire to escape the past, though it always comes back to haunt you. It is the isolation and the trouble that comes with that, that Martha really suffers from-- the cult has a certain way of thinking and the film geniously explores the psychological persuasion into a way of thinking…the way that the cult tries to make their ethics and morality universal is a terrifying, and intriguing thing. Elizabeth Olsen does a helluva job as Martha, giving her dewey eyed complexity, both bewilderment, shock, disgust, and intrigue. She gives quiet moments great momentum, and is an actress to keep an eye on. Jody Lee Lipes' cinematography is eerily distant and then uncomfortably close; the mixed bag reflects Martha's psyche in an interesting way. The scariest thing about Martha Marcy May Marlene is that it actually could happen. It may have even benefited from taking that dive a bit further, let us know just how paranoid and altered Martha is, and especially contrasting that with the old Martha, and the only complaint I might have is that we never get to see what the original Martha was like; it is only inferred as to why she would even accept and join this group in the first place, or what exactly she was running away from. But perhaps that makes the film only more intriguing—running away brought her to this society, and of course it looks fine on the outside, with it's acceptable living conditions and always a "family' of sorts around you. But, ah, there's always more than meets the eye. B+

I'd never heard of this and when scrolling to find a movie it popped up.

A slow, intense, psychological character study. There are some distressing scenes (sexual assault, violence) that were acted brilliantly.

The silence throughout the movie added to the intensity and put the viewer firmly into the mindset of the main character (Martha), who was excellently portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen.

Sarah Paulson (I should add I am biased towards her as she is an exquisite human) added depth and a gentleness that was required for the character of Martha to explore her situation in the scenes between them.

The aspect and post production on this was beautiful, the lighting throughout was spot on. The way that many scenes in the 'cult' were in near darkness contrasting to the light filled space once she left gave excellent visual cues and a sense of the tumultuous emotions being felt by Martha.

Would definitely watch again to see if there were background things I've missed.

Elizabeth Olsen's acting in Martha Marcy May Marlene is really fantastic (it may or may not be her first feature film, not sure which she did first this or Silent House). Her acting combined with the background we get make it easy to see how someone could be drawn into a cult - and stay for so long despite the abusiveness.

The interactions between Martha, her sister and her brother-in-law are downright strange at times but not in a 'hunh?' way at all. They're strange in a way that actually makes perfect sense for the characters and the experiences they've had.

I was really disappointed by the very, very, very end of the film - but I liked the other 100 or so minutes enough that I can forgive it (or forget about it). That and I really can't wait to see Elizabeth Olsen in something else.

Greetings again from the darkness. This one has been on my radar since the Sundance Festival and all the raves about Elizabeth Olsen's performance. After attending a screening last evening, I find myself at a loss to adequately describe not just her stunning turn, but also this unusual film from writer/director Sean Durkin.

On the surface, this sounds like just another movie peeking inside a creepy cult that brainwashes, and psychologically and physically abuses women, and is led by a charismatic (and creepy) religious style figure-head. There are many similarities to the Manson-family story of which much has been published, but Mr. Durkin takes the film in a much different and very creative direction by concentrating on what happens to Martha (Olsen) after she escapes the cult.

In the Q&A, Durkin states he did much research and found the most fascinating story to be that of a cult escapee and what she went through during her first three weeks of freedom. Martha sneaks out early one morning and places a panic call to her older sister, whom she hasn't communicated with in two years. Settling in to the lake house with big sis and new brother-in-law, it becomes quite obvious that Martha doesn't know how to fit in society and has absolutely no interest in discussing her recent past.

The sister is played very well by Sarah Paulson, and her husband is Hugh Dancy (so very good in Adam). This seemingly normal yuppie couple is trying to do right by Martha, but the fits of paranoia, outbursts of anger, and societal goofs are just too much for them.

The genius of this film is in the story telling. The cinematic toggling between today and moments of time at the cult farm house leads the viewer right into the confused mind of Martha. We don't get much back story but it's obvious she was "ripe" for cult world when she was chosen. We see how Patrick, the quietly charismatic leader, sings her a song and steals her heart ... she wants so much to belong. We also see how she bonds with the other women at the farm house, and ends up in a situation that seems to snap her out just enough so she finds the strength to leave. The editing of scenes between these two worlds in outstanding and serve to keep the viewer glued to the screen.

Last year I raved about an independent film called Winter's Bone. I chose it as one of the year's best and it ended with some industry award recognition. I am not willing to say this film is quite at that level, but I will say that the younger sister of the Olsen twins, Elizabeth, delivers an incredible first feature film performance and Sean Durkin deserves an audience for his first feature film as writer/director. Another bond between the two indies is that John Hawkes plays the cult leader Patrick, and Hawkes was a standout in Winter's Bone.

There will undoubtedly be some debate about whether this is cutting edge independent filmmaking or just another snooty art-house mind-messer. All I can say is, I hope the film grabs enough audience for the debate to matter ... it deserves it.

....Or Hot Hippie Cult Love Gone (Very) Bad The schizophrenic, abstract story unfolds almost languidly at a very deliberate pace evoking Bergman with its Euro overtones, serene cinematography and bucolic backgrounds. It's not quite like any American indie films of recent memory. In someways this year's "Winter's Bone", (sharing John Hawks) but with its character study involving sanity slowly, sadly slipping away. Sean Durkin wrote and directed the film with a meditative tone and in a spartan, concise manner that thankfully doesn't suffer from the time-shifting storyline thanks to mostly seamless editing. (Durkin won best director at Sundance last January for this, his first feature.)

Youngest Olsen sister, Elizabeth plays Martha, (who's ripe to play an early '20's version of Vera Farmiga, or Maggie Gyllenhaal's little sis'-you're welcome Hollywood!). It's a marvelous, virtuoso performance, haunting and understated, natural yet very calculated. Olsen straddles the thin line between coherence & madness in a way that's almost endearing and frightening-but ultimately just tragic while side-stepping the mines of caricature and melodrama. She captures the sublimely tortured soul of Mary in a nuanced, organic way that's award-worthy. (And much more realistic and believable than a certain related, crazed ballerina portrayal, but one could argue that one was SUPPOSED to be over-the-top.) Her torment is palpable from the moment she opens her mouth.

The story begins in what appears to be a cult-like commune (is there any other kind in Film-land?) in the Catskills run with an iron fist by Patrick (John Hawks). He's basically a cool, calm, collected version of Charlie Manson-even uttering a few Manson-inspired lines. Hawks can play this type of weaselly, Lothario in his sleep. His quiet menace, vehemence and nihilism seems to be cat nip to his conquered concubines. His word is law, and everybody knows it. Even going as far as renaming Martha "Marcy May", branding her in his own way as you're sure he's done to the other girls in his "flock". But it's not just Patrick to blame for her subservience-the whole cult seduces her! Everyone gets along, & the love is free-flowing in this pastoral, Utopian paradise with many pretty, fresh-faced young women and a few young men (procurers) as well. But all's not well in Well-ville as soon, our protagonist is sneaking out of her home at first light. We don't know how she got there or why she's leaving-although the latter is revealed in the film's third act.

Having no resources, Martha connects with her estranged, older sister Lucy (Sarah Paulsen) and her stressed husband Ted (Hugh Dancy) both in largely thankless roles. Claiming she hooked up with an a-hole boyfriend and just lost track of time the past few years, she won't elaborate any further on her past adventures. Lucy senses the undercurrents beneath, and her guilt gets to her. She sees Martha reluctantly as the cross she must bare being that she's parent-less to the growing consternation-and eventual rage of Ted. The younger sister has obviously changed, running the gamut from playful to feral. Martha the solipsist at first starts out innocent enough with inappropriate behavior like skinny-dipping in full view of Ted, challenging the couple's class consciousness and asking strange questions regarding married couples' mating habits. That's nothing though compared to what's to come and soon, it becomes obvious this is no mere existential crisis-she's become unhinged and needs to be committed. Cult life has been one long mind-f**k she never got over as she tries to fit in to her sister's straight world. When Lucy finally lowers the boom on Martha, (Paulsen's best scene) she recoils and calmly hits her with a cynical, vindictive comment meant to exact a devastating toll on her older sister that almost knocks the wind out of Lucy.

In between these scenes of family revelry, we're given glimpses into the sequence of events that lead to Martha's escape. From her sad, drug-induced deflowering, sorry, "initiation" by Patrick, to the special song he has written for his new main squeeze, (You get the feeling he's gone out of his way to find horrible musicians as his minions thereby making him Clapton by default.) to the tragic turning point. (The only scene in the movie with an obvious outcome.) One thing's for sure, Lucy's kid sis' is a mess, she begins to doubt her decision, her sanity, and herself. She's disintegrating-and she knows it. Even as she clutches the very fragments of who she thinks she is: "I'm a "teacher and a leader!" Martha is like a cat ready to pounce, always on edge. In fact, the more you dive into those lost, mesmerizing eyes, the more you're reminded of the kitten who's found herself up a high, narrow fence not knowing how she got there or having the faintest idea how to get down-or even which side to get down on.

As an actress, Olsen is able to wire walk confidently and has the potential to be this generation's Jodie Foster. (Yeah, I said it.) Even when Martha's waking life seems to blend into her dreamworld, and you can practically see her drowning in emotional quicksand, the actress is able to keep the character grounded in the real and the surreal at the same time-no mean feat for someone barely out of her teens. The direction, and story are well-served by the dark and unnerving score by Saunder Jurriaans & Danny Benasi, bubbling under nicely and melding with Martha's encroaching paranoia. The seamlessness of the two story lines come to a head with a THOROUGHLY maddening, tantalizingly teasing, made-for-sequel final scene-only the joke's on you-there won't be one...

Cast: John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, Elizabeth Olsen, Hugh Dancy, Brady Corbet Director/Screenwriter: Sean Durkin Producer: Josh Mond, Antonio Campos, Chris Maybach Genre: Drama/Thriller Rating: R for disturbing violent and sexual content, nudity and language. Running time: 120 min. Release date: October 21 ltd.