The Galleon - Portsmouth's Official Student Newspaper

Every year there are films that just surprise you, so that you are left wriggling with excitement about how good they turned out to be. Martha Marcy May Marlene, despite its annoying title, is exactly that.

The film is carried by one of the best breakout performances you are likely to see, none other than the Olsen twins’ younger sister Elizabeth as Martha. Martha is a girl who has run away from a cult that she joined, and during the present time of the plot is staying with her older sister and struggles with reimbursing herself into a ‘normal’ state of mind and the haunting memories of her past way of life. Not only does Olsen display Martha’s desperation to leave that life behind her, but also the comfort and warmth that she did once feel within that community, begging us as an audience to question our own society, and which way of life is best for Martha.

First time writer/director Sean Durkin also impresses, gliding us through the story, observing his lead character’s troubles as if standing right next to Martha. The sheer fact that you feel joy, fear, sadness and anxiety frequently throughout the two hours of the film is incredible in itself, and if I had to use one word to describe this film I genuinely don’t think I could. Durkin really shows his class with the ending; it is perfect and you will not leave disappointed.

I’ve always said that the best types of films are those that you can keep you talking and thinking about for days after seeing it. Martha Marcy May Marlene doesn’t have to have a big budget with stars, CGI and vampires to have this effect on you. It’s about real characters with real relationships and real emotions which every member of the audience can relate to, whether they’ve been in a cult or not. One thing is for sure though, get ready to hear a lot more about Elizabeth Olsen.