Martha Marcy May Marlene is not for the lighthearted moviegoer. But then again, it might be safe to say that this film is not for any ordinary moviegoer. Writer/director Sean Durkin's first feature film exists for an incredibly bold niche audience - one that consists of people who get a strange kick out of dark, twisted plotlines and extreme psychological thrillers which push the boundaries of the genre.
Full of excruciating images and scenes, the film focuses on Martha (Elizabeth Olsen), also known as Marcy May and Marlene, who was somehow integrated into a cult-like farming community screaming with gender hierarchy and ghastly sexual abuse. The plot centers around her psychological and emotional struggle to re-acclimatize herself back into "normal" society. The film's perspective is a tricky one; it divides its time between a setting on Martha's estranged sister's summer home on a Connecticut lake and Martha's flashback memories on the farm.
Not to be overshadowed by the film's twisted scenario is its incredible use of sound and scene transitions. Unlike in the majority of films, every noise - or eerie silence - is exaggerated in Martha Marcy May Marlene to create a profound and stirring effect. From the gritty scraping and clanking of silverware on a dinner plate to the heavy thuds of pinecones hitting a metal roof at night, every noise has the deliberate and unnerving objective of inducing paranoia, both in Martha and in the audience.
The film's time and scene transitions are just as trenchant. Throughout the film, Martha's flashbacks are induced by simple everyday actions which send us reeling back in time to her days with the cult. In one flawless transition we see Martha in her sister's kitchen stirring a glass of water with a spoon. Suddenly, we are watching Martha stirring a glass of what we learn is a drugged drink. These transitions come unexpectedly and yet so smoothly that the viewer feels as though these memories are one's own, thrusting the audience deeper into Martha's distorted mind.
Most impressive is Olsen's impeccable performance. In her first starring role, the younger sister of the Olsen twins absolutely surpasses her sisters' acting credibility in her portrayal of the abused and unstable Martha. Frequent and notably long scenes serve as a testament to Olsen's remarkable ability to wholly take on the persona of Martha without fail.
Although I almost wish I had never experienced the production that is Martha Marcy May Marlene, I am reassured for one reason alone: Never have I been so mentally and emotionally stimulated by a film as I was by this one. If nothing else, this movie epitomizes the incredible and chilling power of film. All in all, Martha Marcy May Marlene was merciless, mental, menacing and yes, marvelous.
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
