Martha Marcy May Marlene, a title that makes sense eventually, is a startling debut by Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of the famous and far less talented Olsen twins. She gives a stunning performance as a woman who unravels, though far less quickly than one would expect, after escaping from a Manson Family-type cult and reaching out to her older sister.
Unfortunately, the overall film doesn't live up to Olsen's work, and that of the other excellent actors. Truly great storytelling, while not requiring answers to every question that has been raised throughout, should resolve at least the major question focused on throughout the story. When Martha leaves the cult and its leader, played with his particular brand of creepiness by John Hawkes, what will the consequences be? The writer-director, Sean Durkin, has the audience on the edge, brilliantly building suspense as Martha, her sister, played by Sarah Paulson, and her brother-in-law, played by Hugh Dancy, grow increasingly tense with each other. An audience left hanging is an audience disappointed. Walking away at that point is a cop-out on Durkin's part. A satisfying resolution would still leave the audience with plenty to wonder about and discuss and question - for example, what was real and what was in Martha's imagination? - which is an excellent result of a good movie. Without it, the audience is left with lingering frustration and annoyance, which is a shame for Olsen, who has truly created an indelible character and will no doubt receive numerous accolades at year's end.
Martha Marcy May Marlene is playing at the Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge.
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