almost everything in martha marcy may marlene is minimal, except for the strong emotions it elicits from it's audience. little dialogue and jagged story telling warps the thin line between the film's reality and the paranoia within its lead.
elisabeth olsen makes her film debut portraying martha, a 20 something who seeks refuge at her estranged sisters house after escaping a cult in upstate new york. the movie reveals specific details about her experience, but chooses not to rectify the state of her current life with an explanation about her past. as you're never quite sure what's real and what just may be haunting memories, you're left transfixed, upset and looking for answers that just aren't there. an amazing performance from olsen made this worth a viewing but the strong violence and disturbing sexuality may turn off bigger audiences.
martha marcy may marlene is in select theaters now.
-t
