Martha Marcy May Marlene
2011
****½
Director: Sean Durkin
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, Hugh Dancy, Brady Corbet, Christopher Abbott, Maria Dizzia, Louisa Krause
Martha escapes from a cult and finds refuge with her sister and her husband, but continues to be haunted by her memories of the commune and its charismatic leader. Sean Durkin's feature debut is a wonderfully atmospheric horror-tinged drama which leaves an uneasy feeling. The fluid editing beautifully weaves together Martha's past and present into a mystifying narrative. The heroine (along with the viewer) questions whether she can tell the difference between a dream and a memory. Can we even trust that the present day reality is for real? Elizabeth Olsen gives a very strong breakthrough performance.
