MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE/FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
U.S. Release: October 21, 2011
DIRECTOR: SEAN DURKIN
STARRING: ELIZABETH OLSEN, SARAH PAULSON, JOHN HAWKES
PROS
- The acting is phenomenal. Elizabeth Olsen and John Hawkes add great depth to the lingering frames of their faces. And Hawkes gives his villain such a charming heart.
- The film asks a lot of questions through the characters movements and gestures. What does quality life mean? How beautiful or ugly is money and where does it fall on the priority list?
- It's mesmerizing. I was planted in my seat waiting for the outcome.
CONS
- It's too slow, too methodical, often times predictable.
- There is zero resolution; the ending feels undecided instead of purposeful.
- I had little sympathy, or even empathy, for any of the characters, because Durkin showed so much ugliness in everyone.
FINAL VERDICT: If you want to witness some fantastic acting and understand the horror of cults, replete with scenes of physical and sexual abuse, you could say I recommend it.
QUICK QUOTE!
Zoe: There's no such thing as dead or alive; we just exist.
Michael said: "I hate this. I thought I'd see some cute girl story with that title."
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