By Paco McCullough
Martha Marcy May Marlene is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen, and certainly one of the most creepy non-horror films I've ever seen. This indie film is nothing short of exceptional, and a movie that everyone should go see.
So what exactly is Martha Marcy May Marlene about? The title derives from the multiple names of the main character. A girl in her early twenties, Martha/ Marcy May/ Marlene (Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashely) is first seen running away from a cult. She gets to town and calls her sister. In a dual narrative structure, the viewer watches both the present day, where Martha lives with her sister and brother-in-law, and in the past, showing how Martha came to be indoctrinated by the cult in the first place.
Martha's understanding of social norms has been completely erased by two years living with a cult. She sleeps all the time, walks around naked, and walks into her sister's bedroom while she's having sex. Besides this, she's been hearing things at night. Is the cult coming for her, or is it all in her head?
In the cult timeline, Martha is renamed Marcy May by charismatic cult leader Patrick (John Hawkes). As time goes on, the idyllic community is revealed to have a few dark little secrets. Several moments of this storyline made me cringe. Though horrible actions occur, the really unsettling nature of this is watching Marcy May begin to truly believe what she is told.
Everyone involved gives tremendous performances, particularly Olsen and Hawkes. Hugh Dancy also does a good job as the struggling brother-in-law who is coping with his increasingly unhinged new housemate. The cinematography is very claustrophobic and isolating, perfectly capturing Martha's mood. Coupled with seamless editing, the viewer is thrust between the two worlds without a second of notice, helping to keep you off balance. The real star of this film, though, is writer/director Sean Durkin's masterful script and comfortable direction. Durkin's first film, Martha Marcy May Marlene has made me excited for what Durkin does next.
5 out of 5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment