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Martha Marcy May Marlene

  • 20112011
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
52K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
684
701
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Thriller

Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
52K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
684
701
  • Director
    • Sean Durkin
  • Writer
    • Sean Durkin
  • Stars
    • Elizabeth Olsen
    • Sarah Paulson
    • John Hawkes
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sean Durkin
  • Writer
    • Sean Durkin
  • Stars
    • Elizabeth Olsen
    • Sarah Paulson
    • John Hawkes
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 224User reviews
    • 355Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 22 wins & 74 nominations

    Videos2

    Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Trailer 2:32
    Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Elizabeth Olsen
    Featurette 2:44
    Elizabeth Olsen

    Photos105

    Sarah Paulson and Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    John Hawkes and Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    John Hawkes in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Sean Durkin in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    John Hawkes, Elizabeth Olsen, and Louisa Krause in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Sarah Paulson and Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    John Hawkes and Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Elizabeth Olsen at an event for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Elizabeth Olsen at an event for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
    Maria Dizzia at an event for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elizabeth Olsen
    Elizabeth Olsen
    • Marthaas Martha
    Sarah Paulson
    Sarah Paulson
    • Lucyas Lucy
    John Hawkes
    John Hawkes
    • Patrickas Patrick
    Christopher Abbott
    Christopher Abbott
    • Maxas Max
    Brady Corbet
    Brady Corbet
    • Wattsas Watts
    Hugh Dancy
    Hugh Dancy
    • Tedas Ted
    Maria Dizzia
    Maria Dizzia
    • Katieas Katie
    Julia Garner
    Julia Garner
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Louisa Krause
    Louisa Krause
    • Zoeas Zoe
    Adam David Thompson
    Adam David Thompson
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    • (as Adam Thompson)
    Allen McCullough
    Allen McCullough
    • Man in Home #2as Man in Home #2
    Lauren Molina
    Lauren Molina
    • Cult Memberas Cult Member
    Louisa Braden Johnson
    • Cult Memberas Cult Member
    Tobias Segal
    Tobias Segal
    • Cult Memberas Cult Member
    Gregg Burton
    • Man in Home #1as Man in Home #1
    Barbara Aragon
    • Extraas Extra
    Donald E. Benjamin
    • Extraas Extra
    Stacie A. Blaut
    • Extraas Extra
    • Director
      • Sean Durkin
    • Writer
      • Sean Durkin
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Elizabeth Olsen Through the Years

    Elizabeth Olsen Through the Years

    Take a look back at Elizabeth Olsen's movie and TV career in photos.
    See more photos
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    Storyline

    Edit
    Martha has run away from an abusive hippie-like cult where she was living as Marcy May for two years. She turns to her sister and brother-in-law who take her in and want to help her. The problem is Martha is having a hard time separating dreams from reality and when haunting memories of her past keep resurfacing, she may need more help than anyone is able to give her. —napierslogs
    • cult
    • brainwashed
    • religion
    • caught having sex
    • cult member
    • 169 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content, nudity and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sean Durkin was looking for an unknown actress to play the role of Martha, which was the only role auditions were held for. Elizabeth Olsen auditioned twice for the role, and had to begin filming only two weeks after winning the part.
    • Goofs
      During Martha's breakdown in the party scene, the bow on her white dress is hanging loose when she is being corralled into the bedroom by Lucy and Ted. In the next shot, the bow is done up again.
    • Quotes

      Patrick: You know that death is the most beautiful part of life, right? Death is beautiful because we all fear death. And fear is the most amazing emotion of all because it creates complete awareness. It brings you to now, and it makes you truly present. And when you're truly present, that's nirvana. That's pure love. So death is pure love.

    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: Margin Call (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Ba Bop Bop Bop
      Written by Brady Corbet and Christopher Abbott

      Performed by Brady Corbet and Christopher Abbott

    User reviews224

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    What's wrong with you?
    Greetings again from the darkness. This one has been on my radar since the Sundance Festival and all the raves about Elizabeth Olsen's performance. After attending a screening last evening, I find myself at a loss to adequately describe not just her stunning turn, but also this unusual film from writer/director Sean Durkin.

    On the surface, this sounds like just another movie peeking inside a creepy cult that brainwashes, and psychologically and physically abuses women, and is led by a charismatic (and creepy) religious style figure-head. There are many similarities to the Manson-family story of which much has been published, but Mr. Durkin takes the film in a much different and very creative direction by concentrating on what happens to Martha (Olsen) after she escapes the cult.

    In the Q&A, Durkin states he did much research and found the most fascinating story to be that of a cult escapee and what she went through during her first three weeks of freedom. Martha sneaks out early one morning and places a panic call to her older sister, whom she hasn't communicated with in two years. Settling in to the lake house with big sis and new brother-in-law, it becomes quite obvious that Martha doesn't know how to fit in society and has absolutely no interest in discussing her recent past.

    The sister is played very well by Sarah Paulson, and her husband is Hugh Dancy (so very good in Adam). This seemingly normal yuppie couple is trying to do right by Martha, but the fits of paranoia, outbursts of anger, and societal goofs are just too much for them.

    The genius of this film is in the story telling. The cinematic toggling between today and moments of time at the cult farm house leads the viewer right into the confused mind of Martha. We don't get much back story but it's obvious she was "ripe" for cult world when she was chosen. We see how Patrick, the quietly charismatic leader, sings her a song and steals her heart ... she wants so much to belong. We also see how she bonds with the other women at the farm house, and ends up in a situation that seems to snap her out just enough so she finds the strength to leave. The editing of scenes between these two worlds in outstanding and serve to keep the viewer glued to the screen.

    Last year I raved about an independent film called Winter's Bone. I chose it as one of the year's best and it ended with some industry award recognition. I am not willing to say this film is quite at that level, but I will say that the younger sister of the Olsen twins, Elizabeth, delivers an incredible first feature film performance and Sean Durkin deserves an audience for his first feature film as writer/director. Another bond between the two indies is that John Hawkes plays the cult leader Patrick, and Hawkes was a standout in Winter's Bone.

    There will undoubtedly be some debate about whether this is cutting edge independent filmmaking or just another snooty art-house mind-messer. All I can say is, I hope the film grabs enough audience for the debate to matter ... it deserves it.
    helpful•181
    50
    • ferguson-6
    • Aug 26, 2011

    FAQ3

    • Is the movie based on a book?
    • What does "Marlene" in the title refer to?
    • Were people really trying to harm Martha or was it just paranoia?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 21, 2011 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Marta Marsi Mey Marlen
    • Filming locations
      • Livingston Manor, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Maybach Film Productions
      • Cunningham & Maybach Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,990,625
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $137,651
      • Oct 23, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,778,439
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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