Martha Marcy May Marlene is hauntingly honest, showcasing a portrait inside the life of a cult and the eerie routine of how things are run. First time writer/director Sean Durkin tackles the subject on his own terms by continuously refusing to do what's expected and never attempts to appeal to all movie-goers.
Durkin's script doesn't dumb it down and spoon feed the audience every last detail. At one point it is mentioned that the cult leader only has male children, but leaves it to the audience to figure out why. A subtle trick that keeps you thinking about the framework of the minds lost inside this world.
The cast is nothing short of fantastic. Elizabeth Olsen (yes, she's the younger sister of Mary Kate & Ashley) is fearless. She leads you on a journey inside her lost mind, showing how a young woman can get so trapped in such a bizarre life. Olsen delivers an amazing performance that doesn't allow you to take your eyes of her.
John Hawkes (Me and You and Everyone We Know, Winter's Bone) is subtly frightening as the cult leader. He easily shows how a young woman looking for refuge from a painful life could get sucked into his world from his sweet (or harsh) pep talks with the members around him, to the way he quickly changes a woman's real name after first meeting her, to the haunting song he plays on his acoustic guitar for the group titled 'Marcy's Song'. The song lyrics speak volumes of the true relationship between him and Marcy May when he sings "She's just a picture, who lives on my wall". So beautiful and creepy at the same time.
Martha Marcy May Marlene shows how great independent film can be when it's not slowed down by Hollywood studio heads that demand major stars, or box office profit predictions before they will make it. It doesn't try to be liked by everyone, and refuses to play by the rules. Martha Marcy is immensely powerful, cuts deep, and sticks with you long after the credits roll. God...I love when a film does that.
For more quick reviews check out www.FilmStallion.com
Durkin's script doesn't dumb it down and spoon feed the audience every last detail. At one point it is mentioned that the cult leader only has male children, but leaves it to the audience to figure out why. A subtle trick that keeps you thinking about the framework of the minds lost inside this world.
The cast is nothing short of fantastic. Elizabeth Olsen (yes, she's the younger sister of Mary Kate & Ashley) is fearless. She leads you on a journey inside her lost mind, showing how a young woman can get so trapped in such a bizarre life. Olsen delivers an amazing performance that doesn't allow you to take your eyes of her.
John Hawkes (Me and You and Everyone We Know, Winter's Bone) is subtly frightening as the cult leader. He easily shows how a young woman looking for refuge from a painful life could get sucked into his world from his sweet (or harsh) pep talks with the members around him, to the way he quickly changes a woman's real name after first meeting her, to the haunting song he plays on his acoustic guitar for the group titled 'Marcy's Song'. The song lyrics speak volumes of the true relationship between him and Marcy May when he sings "She's just a picture, who lives on my wall". So beautiful and creepy at the same time.
Martha Marcy May Marlene shows how great independent film can be when it's not slowed down by Hollywood studio heads that demand major stars, or box office profit predictions before they will make it. It doesn't try to be liked by everyone, and refuses to play by the rules. Martha Marcy is immensely powerful, cuts deep, and sticks with you long after the credits roll. God...I love when a film does that.
For more quick reviews check out www.FilmStallion.com