Simon Dillon reviews the film

Martha Marcy May Marlene (herein after referred to as MMMM) has a title that's a marketing nightmare (try saying it correctly from memory). The film itself is also rather nightmarish, in that it deals with a mentally disturbed girl escaping the clutches of a cult, and her sister's futile attempts at rehabilitation.

In flashback we learn that Martha (Elisabeth Olsen) joined said cult lead by the David Koresh-esque Patrick (John Hawkes). Here she was re-named Marcy May, and was at first drawn into the seemingly idyllic atmosphere of their commune. After deciding to stay, she underwent the "cleansing" (a euphemism for sexual initiations), and things gradually went from bad to worse. This story is intercut with her present day attempts to recover, as her sister Lucy (Sarah Poulson) and her husband Ted (Hugh Dancy) are increasingly unsettled by Martha's refusals to talk about what has happened to her, and her alarming behaviour.

Writer/director Sean Durkin has crafted a fascinating, deeply disturbing look at the appalling damage cults can do to people, especially psychologically. By preying on certain types of people - mainly people who have lacked or lost a strong sense of family - Patrick manipulates and comes to dominate the men, and especially the women, who join him. There are brainwashing sequences in MMMM that will make your skin crawl.

Performances are good. John Hawkes in particular offers an extremely creepy performance, and Elisabeth Olsen is equally excellent in the lead. The atmosphere is dark and oppressive throughout, and the slow, deliberate pace will put off many - not to mention the ambiguity in the finale. But whilst this certainly isn't for everyone, it's a very well put together piece of work. I should add the usual cautions for swearing, violence and (obviously) sexual content, though to my mind nothing was gratuitous.

On a spiritual note, MMMM does not offer any real sense of redemption, although throughout the film I did keep thinking about the frequent warnings in the Bible about false prophets and wolves in sheep's clothing. At the very least, MMMM certainly provides food for thought, and also something of a challenge. As western society becomes increasingly fragmented and selfish, these kinds of cults are going to emerge, as people have a genuine need for family and security, and that makes them vulnerable to horrible deception. A sobering thought.