Sometimes, I have no interest in watching a film whatsoever. And then these pesky directors cast Sarah Paulson and Elizabeth Olsen in leading roles so I have no choice. How dare they? (Yes, that was sarcasm.)
I had no idea what Martha Marcy May Marlene was about before I watched it, I’ll be honest. Turns out, Olsen stars as an ex-member of a weird, hippy sex cult. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that I find cults wildly interesting, so if there’s ever a movie about one then there’s a strong chance I’ll enjoy it. This film, however, is more psychological than I anticipated. Rather than focusing purely on the cult at hand, the main purpose of the movie is to take a look at how people re-adjust to life after they’ve escaped it. A fascinating idea, and I can’t recall ever seeing another film like it, so props to writer and director Sean Durkin for having the creativity to bring it to the screen.
Firstly, let me just say this: forget WandaVision. This is where Elizabeth Olsen proved what a force she is. She did it exactly ten years ago, not with gusto but with stillness. Give it a watch if you truly want to understand.
Subtle and subdued in her facial expressions, Olsen manages to portray every emotion under the sun with relatively little movement whatsoever. Her performance as this damaged, confused ex-cult member is extremely powerful even though she actually has very little dialogue. Sarah Paulson is – as you’d expect – as good as she always is, but it is Olsen who takes the reins here and she does it so well.
Other than the acting, what I found so striking about this film was its colourisation. Some of the frames – which are very visually artistic in their composition – look almost like a photograph from the nineties; everything is a little off-colour but not quite sepia-toned. It’s very artsy and indie looking from time to time too, despite starring some very big names.
Let’s be real here now: Martha Marcy May Marlene is not always the most entertaining movie in the world. It is quiet, suppressed and not exactly filled with blockbuster-style action sequences. Although parts of it are difficult to get through and some of it could have been cut for length, it does delve into the psyche of a brainwashed, lost woman quite well. But it definitely won’t be for everyone, so make sure to take it for what it is.
In sum, this is a film that is stylistically wonderful, but there’s nothing much story-wise that will grip you until you get to the outwardly dramatic final act. Still, worth watching purely for Olsen’s outstanding work.
Martha Marcy May Marlene is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK.
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Overall Enjoyability Rating: ½
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